Lay Lake lake and shoreline

Lay Lake Water Level

Alabama

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Lay Lake

Lay Lake is currently 0.6 feet below full pool, with a water-surface elevation of 395.4 feet.

395.39 ft · Updated 3 hours ago · NOAA / National Weather Service — Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Current level

395.39ft

−0.61 ft vs full pool

Normal

Vs full pool

Since last reading

Down 0.04 ft

Previous readingSep 23395.53 ft

7-day change

Down 0.05 ft

7-day trend: Falling

8 daily readings in the last 7 days

30-day change

Down 0.20 ft

31 daily readings in the last 30 days

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Water Level History

Current
395.39 ft
24h
-0.04 ft
7d
-0.05 ft
30d
-0.20 ft

Elevation (ft) MSL

Reference line is designed full pool.

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Lake Level Context

Level remains below the full pool

Lay Lake is currently 395.39 ft, 0.61 ft below its full pool. The lake has fallen 0.05 ft over the past 7 days and 0.20 ft over the past 30 days.

Lay Lake Level Details

Reference elevations, recent daily readings, data sources, and answers to common questions.

Conditions & Reference

Level status

0.61 ft below full pool

Current level
395.39 ft
Full pool
396 ft
DatumVertical reference for published pool and stage elevations at this lake (from the lake catalog).
Not available
Elevation reference
MSL
Source
NOAA / NWS

Reference levels

  • Full pool396 ft

Watershed drought

Moderate Drought

100% of watershed in official drought (D1+).

Severity

NoneExtreme
Trend
Worsening

Watershed drought conditions

Chilton County, AL

Moderate Drought

Moderate Drought. Moderate drought is affecting the watershed.. Trend: Worsening compared with last week. Official drought yes

Severity

NoneExtreme

Weekly trend

Worsening

Compared with last week

Official drought

Yes

100% of the watershed is currently classified as official drought (D1+).

Expected impacts

  • Stream inflows may run below normal
  • Lake levels can decline faster between rain events
  • Vegetation stress may increase over time

U.S. Drought Monitor · map date Sep 22, 2026. Updated weekly. droughtmonitor.unl.eduView drought map for Chilton County, AL

Daily level summary

DateLevelChange
Sep 24, 2026395.49-0.04
Sep 23, 2026395.53+0.05
Sep 22, 2026395.48+0.02
Sep 21, 2026395.46-0.04
Sep 20, 2026395.5-0.03
Sep 19, 2026395.53+0.02
Sep 18, 2026395.51-0.03

Common questions about Lay Lake’s water level

  • The current water level at Lay Lake is 395.39 ft (updated 3 hours ago). You can track the Lay Lake lake level on the interactive chart and daily history above.

  • Full pool for Lay Lake is 396 ft — the normal conservation target elevation when the reservoir is at its designed summer or operating pool.

  • The current 7-day trend for the Lay Lake lake level is falling — falling about 0.05 ft over the past week. See the history chart above for the full picture.

  • Based on the latest gauge reading, Lay Lake is currently 0.61 ft below full pool.

Lake level glossary

Definitions for pool targets, datums, and how elevation readings are labeled.

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