Last 30 days
Next few days
The Corps of Engineers' forecast for the lake and its planned releases through Norfork Dam into the North Fork River.
| Day | Forecast level (ft) | Planned release (cfs, daily average) |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 10 | 552.00 | 600 |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 552.00 | 1,300 |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 552.00 | 300 |
| Fri, Nov 13 | — | 300 |
| Sat, Nov 14 | — | 300 |
| Sun, Nov 15 | — | 300 |
Forecasts change with rain and power demand. The Corps updates them daily.
Norfork Dam generation schedule
When the dam's turbines run, water pours into the North Fork River and the river below rises fast. Here is the Southwestern Power Administration's projected schedule.
Tuesday, Nov 10
6 a.m. to 10 a.m., up to 33 MW (about 2,600 cfs); 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., up to 33 MW (about 2,600 cfs).
Last reported hour (ending 9 a.m.): 32.7 megawatt-hours generated, per the Corps.
Schedules change without notice. Flow in cfs is estimated from Norfork's full-power discharge of 7,200 cfs at 92 MW. See all Ozarks dam schedules.
Pool levels
| Level now | 551.97 ft |
|---|---|
| Normal pool (today) | 553.75 ft |
| Top of flood pool | 580 ft |
| Dam | Norfork Dam, North Fork 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. Norfork Lake sits behind Norfork Dam on the North Fork River, near Mountain Home, 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 Norfork 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 553.75 feet above sea level.
Where does this number come from?
The National Weather Service gauge at Norfork Dam, which reports the lake's surface elevation every hour. We read it every hour.
How high can Norfork Lake get?
The top of the flood control pool is 580 feet. Water stored between normal pool and that line is released over the following weeks.
When is Norfork Dam generating today?
Southwestern Power Administration's projected schedule for Nov 10: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., up to 33 MW (about 2,600 cfs); 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., up to 33 MW (about 2,600 cfs). Schedules can change without notice.
Is the lake low right now?
Norfork Lake is 1.78 feet below normal pool as of 8:00 am, Nov 10.
Sources
- National Weather Service gauge NFDA4 at Norfork 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.