Overview
Lake Rousseau is an approximately 3,700-acre reservoir on the Withlacoochee River spanning Citrus, Levy, and Marion counties near Dunnellon and Inglis. It was formed in 1909 by Inglis Dam for navigation and later hydroelectric power. The dam is owned by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and operated under contract by the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the lake is designated an Outstanding Florida Water.
The reservoir stretches roughly 12 miles along the river, averaging about 8 feet deep with the old Withlacoochee channel reaching near 22 feet. Inflows arrive from the Withlacoochee and the clear Rainbow River; outflow continues west through Inglis Dam and the Inglis Bypass toward the lower Withlacoochee and the unfinished Cross Florida Barge Canal cut to the Gulf.
Rousseau is a popular sport-fishing lake for largemouth bass, panfish, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Lake Rousseau State Recreation Area, campgrounds, and local ramps provide public access along a largely wooded shoreline.
The normal pool is about 27.5 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29). Live gauges may also report NAVD88, which reads roughly a foot lower numerically in this region, so compare datum carefully when checking stages. Elevations respond to Withlacoochee and Rainbow River inflows and dam releases, making current lake-level checks useful for boating and fishing.
Current Conditions
Lake Rousseau is currently 1.49 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.03 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.04 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Rousseau is a 3,700-acre reservoir on the Withlacoochee River and Rainbow River managed by Southwest Florida Water Management District.