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Pactola Reservoir water level

Reservoir, South Dakota, United States

Directions

Very low for mid-October

Surface elevation

4,558.65ft Up 0.40 ft over the last 7 days

Water stored
39,629 acre‑ft
4,560 4,570 4,580

History

4,5604,570ftOct 13Oct 14Oct 15Oct 16Oct 174,5604,570ftOct 13Oct 15Oct 17
4,5604,5704,580ftSep 20Sep 26Oct 3Oct 10Oct 174,5604,5704,580ftSep 20Oct 3Oct 17
4,5604,5704,580ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 20264,5604,5704,580ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026
4,5604,5704,5804,590ftOct 2016Apr 2019Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 20264,5604,5704,5804,590ftOct 2016Oct 2021Oct 2026
4,5604,5704,580ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20264,5604,5704,580ftJanAprJulOct2026

202120222023202420252026

Surface elevation Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

At 4,558.65 ft, Pactola Reservoir is far below normal for mid-October.

That puts it 16.66 ft below the median of 4,575.31 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 4,570.12 ft (−11.47 ft).

The water is rising: up 0.40 ft over the past week. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 4,557.93 ft and 4,558.65 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
4,575.31 ft16.66 ft below the median for this date
Normal for this date
4,559.92 ft – 4,578.54 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
Same day last year
4,570.12 ft−11.47 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
4,557.93 ft – 4,558.65 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
4,557.93 ft – 4,570.28 ft

Swimming and boating at Pactola Reservoir

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.

18 Sun 62° 42° – Wind 9 mph
19 Mon 61° 37° – Wind 11 mph
20 Tue 75° 45° – Wind 9 mph
21 Wed 66° 46° – Wind 11 mph
22 Thu 73° 48° – Wind 15 mph
23 Fri 76° 44° 0.11 in, 45% Wind 16 mph
24 Sat 53° 33° 0.05 in, 47% Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:14 AM Sunset 06:05 PM Daylight 10 hr, 51 min First quarter 60%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Rapid Creek below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 7.22 ft Below flood stage ±0 0.4 mi
Rapid Creek above Johnson Siding below Pactola DamRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 2.87 ft Below flood stage +0.01 ft 2.4 mi
Rapid Creek at Big Bend near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 2.82 ft Below flood stage ±0 3.7 mi
Rapid Creek above Pactola Reservoir at Silver CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 4.75 ft Below flood stage −0.01 ft 4.6 mi
Boxelder Creek near NemoRiver gauge, Boxelder Creek 1.15 ft Very low −0.01 ft 5.3 mi
Wild Irishman Gulch near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Wild Irishman Gulch 3.54 ft Below flood stage ±0 6.1 mi
Victoria Creek below Victoria Dam near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Victoria Creek 3.46 ft Below flood stage ±0 6 mi
Rapid Creek above Victoria Creek near Rapid CityRiver gauge, Rapid Creek 5.23 ft Below flood stage +0.02 ft 7 mi

Questions and answers

How does Pactola Reservoir compare with last year?

It is 11.47 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 4,570.12 ft.

What is a normal level for Pactola Reservoir in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 4,575.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 4,559.92 ft and 4,578.54 ft, based on 36 years of records.

Is Pactola Reservoir really 4,558.65 ft deep?

No. 4,558.65 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 Pactola Reservoir today?

On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 4,558.65 ft. Up 0.40 ft over the last 7 days.

Is Pactola Reservoir rising or falling?

Up 0.40 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Pactola Reservoir normal?

Very 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:444 (Agency page)
Coordinates
44.07220, -103.48810 (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 4,558.65 ft 2026-10-17 06:00 Provisional
Water stored 39,629 acre‑ft 2026-10-17 06:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Pactola Reservoir (usbr:444). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/south-dakota/pactola-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