Lake Tahoe Water Watch
Tahoe Area Water Watch
A look at recent Lake Tahoe surface level and stream
flow rates on the Truckee River
All data and graphs gathered and provided from USGS
Water Resources data.
- Lake Tahoe surface elevation
- Truckee River flow at Tahoe City
- Truckee River flow at Cabin Creek
- Truckee River flow at Farad
Tahoe Lake Level (in feet above natural rim) more
Truckee River flow at Tahoe City (in CFS) more
Truckee River flow at Cabin Creek (in CFS) more
Truckee River flow at Farad (in CFS) more
This data is updated regularly as a courtesy
to TTNN visitors. This data changes frequently and should not
be presumed accurate for any specific time or date.
For more data and information visit the USGS
Water Resources site.
| LAKE LEVEL STATION INFORMATION (more) LOCATION.--Lat 39°10'51", long 120°07'06" On U.S. Coast Guard pier at Lake Forest, 1.1 mi northeast of Tahoe City, and 1.8 mi northeast of Lake Tahoe outlet dam on Truckee River, at Tahoe City. GAGE.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 6,220.00 ft above U.S. Bureau of Reclamation datum, 6,218.86 ft above the NGVD of 1929. Prior to Oct. 1, 1957, nonrecording gages at several sites near outlet of lake at same datum except for water years 1907 and 1908, which were at datum 5.5 ft higher. Oct. 1, 1957, to May 8, 1958, water-stage recorder on left wingwall of dam at outlet of lake at same datum. May 9, 1958, to Sept. 30, 1968, water-stage recorder on pier, 1,000 ft east of dam at lake outlet. REMARKS.--Lake levels regulated by a 17-gate concrete dam at outlet of lake; storage began about 1874. Monthly figures given represent usable contents. Usable capacity, 744,600 acre-ft, between elevations 6,223 ft, natural rim of lake, and 6,229.1 ft, maximum permissible elevation by Federal Court decree. Lake elevations referred to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation datum because that datum is used as the official reference point by all local, State, and Federal agencies. There are minor diversions for domestic purposes, irrigation, and power. See schematic diagram of Truckee River Basin. EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum elevation, 6,231.26 ft, July 14, 15, 17, 18, 1907; minimum, 6,220.26 ft, Nov. 30, 1992. |
| TAHOE CITY TRUCKEE RIVER STATION INFORMATION (more) LOCATION.--Lat 39°09'59", long 120°08'36" on left bank, 510 ft downstream from dam at outlet of Lake Tahoe, at Tahoe City. REMARKS.--Flow completely regulated by dam at outlet of Lake Tahoe (station 10337000), 510 ft upstream. There are several diversions for irrigation, power, and domestic water supply. In addition, sewer effluent is pumped from the Lake Tahoe Basin. EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum discharge, 2,690 ft3/s, Jan. 2, 1997, gage height, 9.59 ft; no flow for parts of many years. |
| CABIN CREEK TRUCKEE RIVER STATION INFORMATION (more) LOCATION.--Lat 39°17'47", long 120°12'16" On left bank, 1.4 mi downstream from Cabin Creek, and 2.5 mi southwest of Truckee. GAGE.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 5,857.66 ft above NGVD of 1929. REMARKS.--Flow regulated by Lake Tahoe (station 10337000), operating capacity, 744,600 acre-ft. EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum discharge, 11,900 ft3/s, Jan. 2, 1997, gage height, 9.97 ft, from rating curve extended above 3,100 ft3/s, on basis of slope-area measurements at gage heights 7.62 ft and 7.92 ft; minimum daily, 3.4 ft3/s, several days in August 1994. |
FARAD TRUCKEE RIVER STATION INFORMATION (more) |
