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Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton water level

Reservoir, Chain Lakes Reservoir, Alberta, Canada

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Right now

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

1,296.96m Steady over the last 24 hours

1,296.5 1,297.0

History

History
1,296.51,297.0mOct 12Oct 14Oct 16Oct 18Oct 191,296.51,297.0mOct 12Oct 16Oct 19
1,296.51,297.0mSep 19Sep 27Oct 4Oct 12Oct 191,296.51,297.0mSep 19Oct 4Oct 19
1,2951,2961,297mOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20261,2951,2961,297mOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
1,2951,2961,297mOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20261,2951,2961,297mOct 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
1,2951,2961,297mJanMarMayJulSepNov20261,2951,2961,297mJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton is at 1,296.96 m, in the normal range for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 1,296.75 m, based on 11 years of readings, so the water level is 0.21 m above typical. On the same day last year the reading was 1,296.79 m, a difference of +0.16 m.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1,296.96 m and 1,297.16 m.

Many reservoirs are drawn down through summer and fall; most of the refill comes later, with winter rain or spring snowmelt.

Compared with 11 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
1,296.75 m0.21 m above the median for this date
Normal for this date
1,296.13 m – 1,297.20 m8 years in 10 fall in this range (11 years of records)
Same day last year
1,296.79 m+0.16 m
Lowest and highest in 30 days
1,296.96 m – 1,297.16 m
Lowest and highest in 12 months
1,296.40 m – 1,297.17 m

On the water at Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton

Normal levels mean few surprises on the water: ramps in use and the shoreline where you expect it.

Wear a life jacket on the water. Most boating deaths involve people who were not wearing one.

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 08:06 AM Sunset 06:39 PM Daylight 10 hr, 33 min First quarter 62%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Willow Creek at Secondary No. 532River gauge, Willow Creek 1.24 m Low ±0 12 km
Stimson Creek near PekiskoRiver gauge, Stimson Creek 1.60 m Very high ±0 25 km
Willow Creek at Oxly RanchRiver gauge, Willow Creek 1.19 m High ±0 26 km
Cataract Creek near Forestry RoadRiver gauge, Cataract Creek 0.94 m Very low −0.01 m 30 km
Pekisko Creek near LongviewRiver gauge, Pekisko Creek 0.64 m Normal ±0 30 km
Highwood River at Diebel'S RanchRiver gauge, Highwood River 0.80 m Normal ±0 32 km
Pine Coulee Outflow below ReservoirRiver gauge, Pine Coulee Outflow 7.51 m Very high ±0 33 km
Pine Coulee Reservoir near StavelyReservoir, Pine Coulee Reservoir 1,051.01 m Very high ±0 33 km

Questions and answers

Is Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.16 m higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1,296.79 m.

What is a normal level for Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1,296.75 m. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1,296.13 m and 1,297.20 m, based on 11 years of records.

Is Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton really 1,296.96 m deep?

No. 1,296.96 m 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 Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton today?

On Oct 19, 2026, 02:05 PM MDT, the surface elevation was 1,296.96 m. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.07 m over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 11 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

Environment and Climate Change Canada – Water Survey of Canada publishes a new reading every hour. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
Environment and Climate Change Canada – Water Survey of Canada
Station code
eccc:05AB037 (Agency page)
Coordinates
50.20184, -114.19006 (WGS84)
Vertical datum
GEODETIC SURVEY OF CANADA DATUM
Update interval
every hour
Licence
Open Government Licence – Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 1,296.96 m 2026-10-19 20:05 Provisional

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How to cite

Environment and Climate Change Canada – Water Survey of Canada: Chain Lakes Reservoir near Nanton (eccc:05AB037). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/canada/alberta/chain-lakes-reservoir-near-nanton

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.