Alcova Reservoir water level
Reservoir, Wyoming, United States
Right now
High for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 168,831 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Alcova Reservoir is above normal at 5,493.55 ft.
That puts it 1.36 ft above the median of 5,492.19 ft for mid-October, based on 36 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 5,492.19 ft (+1.36 ft).
It has dropped 1.94 ft over the past week. In the last month it has stayed between 5,493.55 ft and 5,498.66 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
- 5,492.19 ft1.36 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 5,488.72 ft – 5,494.56 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 5,492.19 ft+1.36 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 5,493.55 ft – 5,498.66 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 5,488.07 ft – 5,498.87 ft
On the water at Alcova Reservoir
With the level a bit above normal, expect a shoreline slightly higher up than usual and the odd floating branch.
Wear a life jacket on the water. Most boating deaths involve people who were not wearing one.
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Reef ReservoirReservoir | 5,329.83 ft | Normal | 1.6 mi | |
| Pathfinder ReservoirReservoir | 5,783.66 ft | Very low | 9 mi | |
| Seminoe ReservoirReservoir | 6,292.74 ft | Very low | 29 mi | |
| L Medicine Bow R above Sand Cr, near Shirley BasinRiver gauge, L Medicine Bow R | 2.2 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 33 mi |
| Deer Creek in Canyon, near GlenrockRiver gauge, Deer Creek in Canyon, | 3.4 cfs | Very low | −0.8 cfs | 37 mi |
| Medicine Bow River above Seminoe Reservoir, near HannaRiver gauge, Medicine Bow River | 2.05 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 39 mi |
| Lake Medicine Bow River at Boles Spring, near Medicine BowRiver gauge, Lake Medicine Bow River | 1.08 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 48 mi |
Questions and answers
How does Alcova Reservoir compare with last year?
It is 1.36 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 5,492.19 ft.
What is a normal level for Alcova Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5,492.19 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 5,488.72 ft and 5,494.56 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Alcova Reservoir really 5,493.55 ft deep?
No. 5,493.55 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 Alcova Reservoir today?
On Oct 17, 2026, the surface elevation was 5,493.55 ft. Down 1.94 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Alcova Reservoir rising or falling?
Down 1.94 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Alcova Reservoir normal?
High 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:259(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.54890, -106.72060(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 | 5,493.55 ft | 2026-10-17 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 168,831 acre‑ft | 2026-10-17 06:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Alcova Reservoir (usbr:259). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/wyoming/alcova-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