Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan water level
Reservoir, Washington, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 97,520 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
There is plenty of water in Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan: 1,032.45 ft, above normal for mid-October.
That puts it 2.05 ft above the median of 1,030.40 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 1,032.45 ft as well.
The water is rising: up 2.17 ft over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 1,028.66 ft and 1,032.45 ft.
Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.
Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 1,030.40 ft2.05 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1,027.63 ft – 1,032.54 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 1,032.45 ft0.00 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 1,028.66 ft – 1,032.45 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1,027.82 ft – 1,046.62 ft
Swimming and boating at Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan
A little more water than usual mostly means narrower beaches. Ramps and docks generally work as normal, but watch for floating debris after storms.
If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moses Lake at Moses LakeLake, Moses Lake | 1,046.76 ft | High | +0.02 ft | 9 mi |
| Crab Creek near Moses LakeRiver gauge, Crab Creek | 3.25 ft | Very high | +0.01 ft | 14 mi |
| Crab Creek near BeverlyRiver gauge, Crab Creek | 3.72 ft | Normal | +0.10 ft | 28 mi |
| Esquatzel Coulee at ConnellRiver gauge, Esquatzel Coulee | 12.22 ft | Normal | +0.27 ft | 29 mi |
| Soap Lake near Soap LakeLake, Soap Lake | 1,068.33 ft | Very low | −0.02 ft | 31 mi |
| Billy Clapp Lake and PintoReservoir | 1,333.09 ft | High | 32 mi | |
| Crab Creek at IrbyRiver gauge, Crab Creek | 0.48 ft | Low | +0.05 ft | 33 mi |
| Columbia River below Priest Rapids DamRiver gauge, Columbia River | 5.97 ft | Very low | −1.37 ft | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan compare with last year?
It is about the same as on this day last year, when the reading was 1,032.45 ft.
What is a normal level for Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 1,030.40 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1,027.63 ft and 1,032.54 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan really 1,032.45 ft deep?
No. 1,032.45 ft is the height of the water surface above sea level (or the agency's vertical datum), not the depth of the water.
What is the water level of Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan today?
On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 1,032.45 ft. Up 2.17 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan rising or falling?
Up 2.17 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan normal?
High for mid-October. Compared with 36 years of daily readings for this time of year.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation publishes a new reading once a day. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Station code
usbr:7265(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.98312, -119.27551(WGS84)- Update interval
- once a day
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface elevation | 1,032.45 ft | 2026-10-17 07:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 97,520 acre‑ft | 2026-10-17 07:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Potholes Reservoir and O'Sullivan (usbr:7265). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/washington/potholes-reservoir-and-osullivan
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer