Belle Fourche Reservoir water level
Reservoir, South Dakota, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 60,117 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
The lake level at Belle Fourche Reservoir reads 2,956.85 ft, about where it usually sits at this time of year.
The median for mid-October is 2,964.17 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the lake level is 7.32 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 2,968.40 ft, a difference of −11.55 ft.
It has barely moved over the past week. The 30-day range is 2,955.68 ft – 2,957.05 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
- 2,964.17 ft7.32 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2,945.48 ft – 2,969.25 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2,968.40 ft−11.55 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2,955.68 ft – 2,957.05 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2,955.23 ft – 2,973.65 ft
Boating and fishing at Belle Fourche Reservoir
A lake in its usual range is what most ramps, docks and swimming areas are built for.
Conditions at the shore change with the level, so check with the agency that runs the lake before a trip.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inlet Canal above Belle Fourche ReservoirRiver gauge, Inlet Canal | 4.92 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 3.8 mi |
| Belle Fourche River near FruitdaleRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 1.57 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 4.4 mi |
| Redwater River above Belle FourcheRiver gauge, Redwater River | 3.10 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 9 mi |
| Whitewood Creek above ValeRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 0.0 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Whitewood Creek near WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 5.48 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 14 mi |
| Belle Fourche River at Wy-Sd State LineRiver gauge, Belle Fourche River | 3.43 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 19 mi |
| Spearfish Creek at SpearfishRiver gauge, Spearfish Creek | 4.79 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 20 mi |
| Whitewood Creek above WhitewoodRiver gauge, Whitewood Creek | 0.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 20 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Belle Fourche Reservoir higher than last year?
No, it is 11.55 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2,968.40 ft.
What is a normal level for Belle Fourche Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 2,964.17 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2,945.48 ft and 2,969.25 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Belle Fourche Reservoir really 2,956.85 ft deep?
No. 2,956.85 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 Belle Fourche Reservoir today?
On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 2,956.85 ft. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is Belle Fourche Reservoir rising or falling?
Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Belle Fourche Reservoir 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:274(Agency page)- Coordinates
44.73670, -103.67420(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 | 2,956.85 ft | 2026-10-17 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 60,117 acre‑ft | 2026-10-17 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: Belle Fourche Reservoir (usbr:274). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/belle-fourche-reservoir
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