Lake of the Ozarks water level

Last 30 days

What the number means

Full pool at Lake of the Ozarks is 660 feet. Ameren lowers the lake through fall and winter, so a reading a few feet under full in November or January is normal, not a drought.

A low lake shows up first in the shallow ends of coves, at private docks sitting close to shore, and at boat ramps with short concrete. If you're putting in this time of year, take a look at the ramp before you back the trailer down.

When the forecast shows bigger releases from Bagnell Dam, the water below the dam on the Osage River comes up fast. Ameren tests the dam's warning sirens at noon on the first Wednesday of each month.

Questions

What is full pool at Lake of the Ozarks?

Full pool is 660 feet above sea level. Ameren Missouri usually draws the lake down a few feet over the fall and winter and lets it come back up in spring.

Where does this number come from?

The level comes from the National Weather Service gauge on the lake side of Bagnell Dam, which reports every hour. When Ameren Missouri's daily lake report is available, this page also shows its surface water temperature and three-day release forecast. We check both every hour.

Why does the lake go down in winter?

Ameren follows a guide curve, a set of target levels for each day of the year. Running the lake lower through the cool months leaves room to hold spring rain.