Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point water level

Name: Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

Lake, Chautauqua Lake, New York, United States

Directions

Normal for mid-October

Surface elevation

1,307.52ft Steady over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 05:30 PM EDT (1 hour ago)

History

202120222023202420252026

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

What this means

Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point is at 1,307.52 ft, in the normal range for mid-October.

That puts it 0.10 ft above the median of 1,307.42 ft for mid-October, based on 7 years of readings. It is 1.98 ft below the flood stage of 1,309.50 ft. A year ago it stood at 1,306.92 ft (+0.60 ft).

The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 1,307.50 ft and 1,307.88 ft.

Lakes and reservoirs often sit lower in fall after a summer of evaporation and use, and recover with winter rain and spring snowmelt.

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

Key numbers

Median for this date: 1,307.42 ft0.10 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 1,306.97 ft – 1,307.76 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (7 years of records)
Same day last year: 1,306.92 ft+0.60 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 1,307.50 ft – 1,307.88 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 1,306.36 ft – 1,308.52 ft
Highest on record: 1,311.23 ftMarch 5, 1976

On the water at Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point

Normal levels mean few surprises on the water: ramps in use and the shoreline where you expect it.

Wear a life jacket on the water. Most boating deaths involve people who were not wearing one.

What happens at each level

1,310.50 ft: MAJOR FLOOD...EXTENSIVE FLOODING OF LOWLYING AREAS NEAR LAKE. 40 HOMES SURROUNDED BY WATER.
1,310.00 ft: MODERATE FLOOD...DAMAGES BEGIN. SOME FLOODING IN LOWLYING AREAS.
1,309.50 ft: FLOOD STAGE-MINOR FLOOD. WATER SPILLS OVER BANKS AND BEGINS TO FLOOD FIELDS AND LOWLYING AREAS. MINIMAL DAMAGES.
1,307.52 ft: Right now

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

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.21 in.

18 Sun 57° 34° – Wind 10 mph

19 Mon 61° 40° – Wind 7 mph

20 Tue 61° 39° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 60° 35° – Wind 6 mph

22 Thu 61° 38° – Wind 9 mph

23 Fri 60° 42° – Wind 8 mph

24 Sat 61° 38° – Wind 12 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:34 AM Sunset 06:33 PM Daylight 10 hr, 58 min First quarter 53%

Map

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Chadakoin River at FalconerRiver gauge, Chadakoin River	−0.43 ft	Below flood stage	−0.03 ft	10 mi
Chautauqua Creek below WestfieldRiver gauge, Chautauqua Creek	12.3 cfs	Low	−2.2 cfs	16 mi
Conewango Creek at RussellRiver gauge, Conewango Creek	2.31 ft	Below flood stage	+0.09 ft	20 mi
Canadaway Creek at FredoniaRiver gauge, Canadaway Creek	8.1 cfs	Low	−3.8 cfs	20 mi
Brokenstraw Creek at YoungsvilleRiver gauge, Brokenstraw Creek	120 cfs	Normal	−25.0 cfs	21 mi
French Creek near WattsburgRiver gauge, French Creek	44.8 cfs	Low	−28.1 cfs	22 mi
West Branch French Creek near LowvilleRiver gauge, West Branch French Creek	4.28 ft	Below flood stage	−0.21 ft	24 mi
Allegheny River below Conewango Creek at WarrenRiver gauge, Allegheny River	3.23 ft	Below flood stage	+0.02 ft	25 mi

Questions and answers

How does Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point compare with last year?

It is 0.60 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 1,306.92 ft.

What is a normal level for Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 1,307.42 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1,306.97 ft and 1,307.76 ft, based on 7 years of records.

Is Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point really 1,307.52 ft deep?

No. 1,307.52 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 Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 05:30 PM EDT, the surface elevation was 1,307.52 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.

Is Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point rising or falling?

Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point normal?

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

What is the highest water level ever recorded at Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point?

The highest level on record is 1,311.23 ft on March 5, 1976.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:03013946 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 42.15644, -79.39383 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
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	1,307.52 ft	2026-10-18 21:30	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Chautauqua Lake at Bemus Point (usgs:03013946). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/new-york/chautauqua-lake-at-bemus-point

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