Box Butte Reservoir water level
Reservoir, Nebraska, United States
Right now
Low for mid-October
Surface elevation
- Water stored
- 4,875 acre‑ft
History
202120222023202420252026
What this means
Box Butte Reservoir is below normal for mid-October, with the lake level at 3,984.23 ft.
The median for mid-October is 3,988.11 ft, based on 36 years of readings, so the lake level is 3.88 ft below typical. On the same day last year the reading was 3,988.05 ft, a difference of −3.82 ft.
It has risen 0.30 ft over the past week. In the last month it has stayed between 3,982.92 ft and 3,984.23 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
- 3,988.11 ft3.88 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3,981.04 ft – 3,994.04 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (36 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3,988.05 ft−3.82 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3,982.92 ft – 3,984.23 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3,980.26 ft – 3,994.57 ft
On the water at Box Butte Reservoir
A receding shoreline opens up beaches but also uncovers hazards: stumps, rocks and soft mud that are usually well under water.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niobrara River at AgateRiver gauge, Niobrara River | 6.37 ft | Very high | −0.01 ft | 37 mi |
| White River near Ne-Sd State LineRiver gauge, White River | 3.93 ft | Below flood stage | +0.10 ft | 40 mi |
| Winters Creek LakeLake | 4,118.90 ft | Very low | 42 mi | |
| Little Lake Alice ReservoirReservoir | 4,130.99 ft | Normal | 43 mi | |
| Lake MinatareLake | 4,097.57 ft | Low | 43 mi | |
| Lake Alice and DamsLake | 4,159.00 ft | Very low | 44 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Box Butte Reservoir higher than last year?
No, it is 3.82 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3,988.05 ft.
What is a normal level for Box Butte Reservoir in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 3,988.11 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3,981.04 ft and 3,994.04 ft, based on 36 years of records.
Is Box Butte Reservoir really 3,984.23 ft deep?
No. 3,984.23 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 Box Butte Reservoir today?
On Oct 16, 2026, the surface elevation was 3,984.23 ft. Up 0.30 ft over the last 7 days.
Is Box Butte Reservoir rising or falling?
Up 0.30 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Box Butte Reservoir 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:268(Agency page)- Coordinates
42.45830, -103.06670(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 | 3,984.23 ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
| Water stored | 4,875 acre‑ft | 2026-10-16 06:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Box Butte Reservoir (usbr:268). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/nebraska/box-butte-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