Owasco Lake near Auburn water level

Name: Owasco Lake near Auburn water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Lake, Owasco Lake, New York, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

711.64ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

History

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

Nothing unusual at Owasco Lake near Auburn right now: the lake level of 711.64 ft is in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 711.70 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.06 ft below typical. It is 3.36 ft below the flood stage of 715.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 710.76 ft, a difference of +0.88 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 711.62 ft and 712.03 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.

Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 711.70 ft0.06 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 710.74 ft – 711.97 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year: 710.76 ft+0.88 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 711.62 ft – 712.03 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 709.04 ft – 712.76 ft
Highest on record: 716.91 ftMarch 26, 1936

Swimming and boating at Owasco Lake near Auburn

At a normal level, ramps and marinas generally run as usual, and fishing tends to follow the season more than the water level.

If you swim, pick a spot with an easy way out, and remember that drop-offs move as the level changes.

What happens at each level

716.90 ft: Major flooding. Represents floods of record reached in 1936, 1940, and 1972.
716.00 ft: Moderate flooding begins. City of Auburn pumping station floor elevation reached.
715.00 ft: Lake level flood stage. Minor flooding begins along the west side of lake in Fleming and along the southeast corner in Indian Cove. Poplar Cove Road is threatened.
711.64 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.08 in.

19 Mon 67° 38° – Wind 6 mph

20 Tue 62° 41° – Wind 10 mph

21 Wed 58° 37° – Wind 5 mph

22 Thu 58° 36° – Wind 11 mph

23 Fri 54° 36° – Wind 8 mph

24 Sat 58° 36° – Wind 9 mph

25 Sun 61° 38° – Wind 12 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:26 AM Sunset 06:17 PM Daylight 10 hr, 51 min First quarter 66%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Owasco Outlet at Genesee St., AuburnRiver gauge, Owasco Outlet	0.87 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	2.3 mi
Skaneateles Creek near Skaneateles JunctionRiver gauge, Skaneateles Creek	19.8 cfs	Normal	±0	8 mi
Seneca River at Free Bridge CornersRiver gauge, Seneca River	344 cfs	Normal	−50.0 cfs	11 mi
Seneca River near Seneca FallsRiver gauge, Seneca River	294 cfs	Normal	+109 cfs	11 mi
Seneca River (Erie Canal) near Port ByronRiver gauge, Seneca River (Erie Canal)	607 cfs	Low	−220.0 cfs	13 mi
Seneca R (Barge Canal) at Cross Lake near JordanRiver gauge, Seneca R (Barge Canal)	7.88 ft	Very low	−0.01 ft	14 mi
Owasco Inlet below Aurora Street at MoraviaRiver gauge, Owasco Inlet	3.81 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	14 mi
Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch, near JordanRiver gauge, Seneca River, Mouth of State Ditch	1.07 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	15 mi

Questions and answers

Is Owasco Lake near Auburn higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.88 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 710.76 ft.

What is a normal level for Owasco Lake near Auburn in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 711.70 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 710.74 ft and 711.97 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Owasco Lake near Auburn really 711.64 ft deep?

No. 711.64 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 Owasco Lake near Auburn today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 01:00 AM EDT, the surface elevation was 711.64 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Owasco Lake near Auburn rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.06 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Owasco Lake near Auburn normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 7 years of daily readings for this time of year.

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Owasco Lake near Auburn?

The highest level on record is 716.91 ft on March 26, 1936.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:04235396 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.90364, -76.53964 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Surface elevation	711.64 ft	2026-10-20 05:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Owasco Lake near Auburn (usgs:04235396). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-york/owasco-lake-near-auburn

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