Last 30 days
Next few days
The Corps of Engineers' forecast for the lake and its planned releases through Bull Shoals Dam into the White River.
| Day | Forecast level (ft) | Planned release (cfs, daily average) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 10 | 652.40 | 900 |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 652.40 | 1,600 |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 652.40 | 1,600 |
| Fri, Nov 13 | — | 1,600 |
| Sat, Nov 14 | — | 1,600 |
| Sun, Nov 15 | — | 1,600 |
Forecasts change with rain and power demand. The Corps updates them daily.
Bull Shoals Dam generation schedule
When the dam's turbines run, water pours into the White River and the river below rises fast. Here is the Southwestern Power Administration's projected schedule.
Tuesday, Nov 10
All day, up to 140 MW (about 9,500 cfs).
Last reported hour (ending 8 a.m.): 19.4 megawatt-hours generated, per the Corps.
Schedules change without notice. Flow in cfs is estimated from Bull Shoals's full-power discharge of 26,400 cfs at 391 MW. See all Ozarks dam schedules.
Pool levels
| Level now | 652.39 ft |
|---|---|
| Normal pool (today) | 659.00 ft |
| Top of flood pool | 695 ft |
| Dam | Bull Shoals Dam, White River |
| Managed by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District |
The Corps sets the normal pool by season, and this is today's target.
What the number means
Lake levels are feet above sea level, measured at the dam. Bull Shoals Lake sits behind Bull Shoals Dam on the White River, near Bull Shoals and Lakeview, Arkansas.
A lake a few feet under normal pool is common in fall and winter. It shows up first at boat ramps with short concrete, in the shallow backs of coves, and at docks close to shore, so look at the ramp before you back the trailer down.
When the lake rises above normal pool, the extra water is flood storage. The Corps lets it out through the dam over days or weeks, so the river below the dam can run high long after the rain stops.
Questions
What is the normal pool at Bull Shoals Lake?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, sets the top of the conservation pool (normal pool) by season. Today's target is 659.00 feet above sea level.
Where does this number come from?
The National Weather Service gauge at Bull Shoals Dam, which reports the lake's surface elevation every hour. We read it every hour.
How high can Bull Shoals Lake get?
The top of the flood control pool is 695 feet. Water stored between normal pool and that line is released over the following weeks.
When is Bull Shoals Dam generating today?
Southwestern Power Administration's projected schedule for Nov 10: All day, up to 140 MW (about 9,500 cfs). Schedules can change without notice.
Is the lake low right now?
Bull Shoals Lake is 6.61 feet below normal pool as of 8:00 am, Nov 10.
Sources
- National Weather Service gauge BSGA4 at Bull Shoals Dam, read hourly
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CWMS Data: seasonal normal pool, read daily
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, via CWMS Data: lake forecast, planned releases, water temperature below the dam and hourly generation, read hourly
- Southwestern Power Administration: Generation Schedule, read hourly
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District: normal and flood pool elevations, checked Nov 10, 2026
Gauge readings are provisional. This page is independent and not affiliated with the agencies that run the gauges or the dam.