Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls water level

Name: Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Lake, Russell Lake, South Carolina, United States

Directions

Low for mid-October

Surface elevation

473.45ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT (1 hour ago)

Water temperature: 71 °F

History

202120222023202420252026

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

What this means

At 473.45 ft, Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls is below normal for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 474.10 ft, based on 7 years of readings, so the lake level is 0.65 ft below typical. It is 11.55 ft below the flood stage of 485.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 473.64 ft, a difference of −0.19 ft.

It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 472.76 ft and 473.55 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt. The water temperature at the gauge is 71 °F.

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

Key numbers

Median for this date: 474.10 ft0.65 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date: 472.89 ft – 475.06 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year: 473.64 ft−0.19 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 472.76 ft – 473.55 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 471.89 ft – 475.63 ft
Highest on record: 479.79 ftJanuary 17, 2016

Swimming and boating at Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls

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.

The water is a comfortable 71 °F. In warm spells, look out for algae warnings at public beaches.

What happens at each level

485.00 ft: AT THIS LEVEL CALHOUN FALLS STATE PARK AND DAY USE ROADS WILL BEGIN TO FLOOD. FYI...LIKELY WILL NEVER REACH THIS LEVEL. RECORD CREST IS 480 FT.
477.00 ft: WATER MANAGEMENT THRESHOLD, EXPECT MORE FREQUENT INFLOW FORECASTS.
475.00 ft: ALL BEACHES ON THE LAKE WILL BE CLOSED. POWER TO GAS DOCKS AND 80 OTHER SLIP DOCKS IN THE BEAVER DAM AREA WILL BE TURNED OFF. THE LOWEST WALKWAY AT THE FISHING PIER WILL BE CLOSED.
473.45 ft: Right now
4.25 ft: 4.28 INCHES IN ONE HOUR IS 1000 YEAR RETURN PERIOD RAINFALL.

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

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 76° 40° – Wind 7 mph

21 Wed 75° 45° – Wind 7 mph

22 Thu 77° 49° – Wind 5 mph

23 Fri 73° 48° – Wind 7 mph

24 Sat 70° 49° – Wind 11 mph

25 Sun 71° 46° – Wind 10 mph

26 Mon 74° 46° – Wind 6 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:40 AM Sunset 06:52 PM Daylight 11 hr, 11 min First quarter 69%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Little River near Mount CarmelRiver gauge, Little River	2.69 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	7 mi
Broad River near BellRiver gauge, Broad River	3.39 ft	Below flood stage	−0.04 ft	12 mi
Beaverdam Creek above ElbertonRiver gauge, Beaverdam Creek	1.17 ft	Very low	±0	17 mi
Rocky River near StarrRiver gauge, Rocky River	2.89 ft	Normal	+0.01 ft	20 mi
Broad River above CarltonRiver gauge, Broad River	0.70 ft	Very low	−0.02 ft	22 mi
Thurmond Lake near Plum BranchLake, Thurmond Lake	319.43 ft	Very low	+0.01 ft	24 mi
Saluda River near Ware ShoalsRiver gauge, Saluda River	1.99 ft	Normal	−0.06 ft	30 mi
Hartwell Lake near AndersonLake, Hartwell Lake	648.77 ft	Very low	−0.20 ft	31 mi

Questions and answers

Is Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls higher than last year?

No, it is 0.19 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 473.64 ft.

What is a normal level for Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 474.10 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 472.89 ft and 475.06 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls really 473.45 ft deep?

No. 473.45 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 Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT, the surface elevation was 473.45 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Up 0.18 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls?

The highest level on record is 479.79 ft on January 17, 2016.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:02188100 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 34.10111, -82.61806 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: local
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	473.45 ft	2026-10-20 14:00	Provisional
Water temperature	71 °F	2026-10-20 14:00	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Russell Lake above Calhoun Falls (usgs:02188100). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-carolina/russell-lake-above-calhoun-falls

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