Lake Tschida and Heart Butte water level
Lake, North Dakota, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 45,541 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
At 2,057.61 ft, Lake Tschida and Heart Butte is below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 3.83 ft below the median of 2,061.44 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 2,061.65 ft (−4.04 ft).
The level has held steady over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2,057.51 ft and 2,057.65 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 36 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2,061.44 ft3.83 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2,056.65 ft – 2,063.61 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2,061.65 ft−4.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2,057.51 ft – 2,057.65 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2,057.51 ft – 2,064.68 ft
Swimming and boating at Lake Tschida and Heart Butte
Low water changes a lake fast for boaters. Some ramps get shorter or close, docks may be moved, and rocks and sandbars that are usually well under the surface come within reach of a prop.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart River above Lake Tschida near Glen UllinRiver gauge, Heart River | 2.43 ft | Very low | −0.02 ft | 13 mi |
| Heart River near RichardtonRiver gauge, Heart River | 3.85 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 26 mi |
| Heart River at Stark Bridge near JudsonRiver gauge, Heart River | 1.82 ft | Very low | −0.01 ft | 29 mi |
| Cannonball River at RegentRiver gauge, Cannonball River | 4.70 ft | Normal | −0.03 ft | 37 mi |
| Cannonball River near RaleighRiver gauge, Cannonball River | 1.77 ft | Very low | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Knife River near Golden ValleyRiver gauge, Knife River | 3.94 ft | Very low | ±0 | 40 mi |
| Cedar Creek near RaleighRiver gauge, Cedar Creek | −0.09 ft | Very low | +0.01 ft | 42 mi |
| Heart River near MandanRiver gauge, Heart River | 8.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 43 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Lake Tschida and Heart Butte compare with last year?
It is 4.04 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2,061.65 ft.
What is a normal level for Lake Tschida and Heart Butte in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2,061.44 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2,056.65 ft and 2,063.61 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Lake Tschida and Heart Butte really 2,057.61 ft deep?
No. 2,057.61 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 Lake Tschida and Heart Butte today?
On Oct 18, 2026, the surface elevation was 2,057.61 ft. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is Lake Tschida and Heart Butte rising or falling?
Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Lake Tschida and Heart Butte normal?
Low 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:402(Agency page)- Coordinates
46.59670, -101.80940(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 | 2,057.61 ft | 2026-10-18 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 45,541 acre‑ft | 2026-10-18 06:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Lake Tschida and Heart Butte (usbr:402). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-dakota/lake-tschida-and-heart-butte
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