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Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes water level

Reservoir, Montana, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

2,216.01ft Down 0.13 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
56,852 acre‑ft
2,210 2,215 2,220

History

2,2102,2152,220ftOct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 16Oct 182,2102,2152,220ftOct 13Oct 15Oct 18
2,2102,2152,220ftSep 20Sep 27Oct 4Oct 11Oct 182,2102,2152,220ftSep 20Oct 4Oct 18
2,2102,2152,220ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20262,2102,2152,220ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
2,2052,2102,2152,220ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20262,2052,2102,2152,220ftOct 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
2,2102,2152,220ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262,2102,2152,220ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes is at 2,216.01 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

That puts it 0.82 ft below the median of 2,216.83 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2,216.70 ft (−0.69 ft).

It has dropped 0.13 ft over the past week. In the last month it has stayed between 2,216.01 ft and 2,216.63 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
2,216.83 ft0.82 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
2,208.19 ft – 2,220.60 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year
2,216.70 ft−0.69 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
2,216.01 ft – 2,216.63 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
2,210.99 ft – 2,217.20 ft

On the water at Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes

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.

17 Sat 76° 31° – Wind 14 mph
18 Sun 56° 37° – Wind 11 mph
19 Mon 68° 33° – Wind 15 mph
20 Tue 63° 46° – Wind 12 mph
21 Wed 63° 44° – Wind 14 mph
22 Thu 73° 50° – Wind 8 mph
23 Fri 58° 43° 0.22 in, 38% Wind 20 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:37 AM Sunset 06:15 PM Daylight 10 hr, 38 min First quarter 63%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Beaver Cr below Guston Coulee near Saco MTRiver gauge, Beaver Cr 0.87 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 12 mi
Milk River at Juneberg Bridge near Saco MTRiver gauge, Milk River 3.02 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 14 mi
Beaver Creek near Hinsdale MTRiver gauge, Beaver Creek 2.52 ft Below flood stage −0.03 ft 18 mi
Milk River at Malta MTRiver gauge, Milk River 1.82 ft Below flood stage +0.03 ft 20 mi
Frenchman River at international boundaryRiver gauge, Frenchman River 1.30 m Below flood stage ±0 55 km
Milk River at Tampico MTRiver gauge, Milk River 2.57 ft Below flood stage −0.10 ft 35 mi
Milk River near Dodson MTRiver gauge, Milk River 4.21 ft Below flood stage −0.05 ft 37 mi
Rock Creek below Horse Creek near int'l boundaryRiver gauge, Rock Creek 2.4 cfs Normal −0.2 cfs 43 mi

Questions and answers

How does Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes compare with last year?

It is 0.69 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2,216.70 ft.

What is a normal level for Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2,216.83 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2,208.19 ft and 2,220.60 ft, based on 36 years of records.

Is Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes really 2,216.01 ft deep?

No. 2,216.01 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 Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes today?

On Oct 18, 2026, the surface elevation was 2,216.01 ft. Down 0.13 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes rising or falling?

Down 0.13 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes 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:424 (Agency page)
Coordinates
48.52970, -107.51860 (WGS84)
Update interval
once a day
Licence
Public domain. Data: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (RISE), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Surface elevation 2,216.01 ft 2026-10-18 06:00 Provisional
Water stored 56,852 acre‑ft 2026-10-18 06:00 Provisional

Download

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Nelson Reservoir and Nelson Dikes (usbr:424). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/montana/nelson-reservoir-and-nelson-dikes

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