Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant water level
Reservoir, Montana, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 1,481,560 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant is at 3,784.55 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.
That puts it 1.14 ft below the median of 3,785.69 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 3,782.58 ft (+1.97 ft).
It has risen 0.10 ft over the past week. In the last month it has stayed between 3,784.39 ft and 3,785.38 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
- 3,785.69 ft1.14 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3,781.77 ft – 3,792.03 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3,782.58 ft+1.97 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3,784.39 ft – 3,785.38 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3,782.64 ft – 3,791.34 ft
On the water at Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant
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
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena Valley ReservoirReservoir | 3,817.67 ft | Very high | 7 mi | |
| Missouri River below Hauser Dam near Helena MTRiver gauge, Missouri River | 2,790 cfs | Low | −250.0 cfs | 11 mi |
| Prickly Pear Creek near Clancy MTRiver gauge, Prickly Pear Creek | 20.9 cfs | Low | −0.9 cfs | 14 mi |
| Tenmile Creek near Helena MTRiver gauge, Tenmile Creek | 2.46 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Tenmile Creek near Rimini MTRiver gauge, Tenmile Creek | 3.0 cfs | Normal | −1.2 cfs | 27 mi |
| Missouri River below Holter Dam near Wolf Cr MTRiver gauge, Missouri River | 2,900 cfs | Very low | −80.0 cfs | 27 mi |
| Smith River near Ft Logan MTRiver gauge, Smith River | 136 cfs | High | −14.0 cfs | 28 mi |
| Smith River below Eagle Cr near Fort Logan MTRiver gauge, Smith River | 169 cfs | High | −17.0 cfs | 28 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant compare with last year?
It is 1.97 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3,782.58 ft.
What is a normal level for Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3,785.69 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3,781.77 ft and 3,792.03 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant really 3,784.55 ft deep?
No. 3,784.55 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 Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant today?
On Oct 19, 2026, the surface elevation was 3,784.55 ft. Up 0.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant rising or falling?
Up 0.10 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant normal?
Normal 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:295(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.64920, -111.72750(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 | 3,784.55 ft | 2026-10-19 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 1,481,560 acre‑ft | 2026-10-19 06:00 | Provisional |
Download
Embed this gauge
Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.
How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Canyon Ferry Lake Dam Powerplant and Helena Valley Pumping Plant (usbr:295). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/canyon-ferry-lake-dam-powerplant-and-helena-valley-pumping-plant
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