Which lakes have live conditions data?

Only lakes with an active USGS real-time gauge — 60 lakes across our United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs., 8 of which report water temperature. These are mostly the largest lakes and reservoirs (Lake of the Woods, Leech, Mille Lacs, Winnebago, Lake Champlain). Most smaller lakes have no continuous gauge, so they show nutrient and algae readings and seasonal data instead of live readings.

How current is the water temperature shown here?

USGS gauges log readings every 15–60 minutes. LakeQuality captures the most recent reading at build time and stamps it with the exact date and time; for the live value, follow the "See live data" link to the USGS monitoring station. All USGS real-time values are provisional until reviewed.

What is the difference between gage height and water elevation?

Gage height is the water surface measured against a local reference point at the gauge — useful for "is the lake up or down" but not comparable between lakes. Water elevation is the surface height above a national datum (feet above sea level) and is an absolute figure, reported for many reservoirs.

Live Lake Conditions: Water Temperature & Level

Coverage is limited to gauged lakes. Most lakes have no continuous monitor, so they carry nutrient and algae readings and seasonal data instead of a live reading — including a typical water temperature for each month (from decades of EPA Water Quality Portal field samples) shown on the lake’s own page.

Lake	State	Water Temp	Level	As Of
West Okoboji Lake	Iowa	49°F	4.63 ft	Jul 6
Lake Taneycomo	Missouri	50°F	702.08 ft	Jul 6
Storm Lake Max Depth	Iowa	83°F	13.82 ft	Jul 6
Unnamed Lake	Minnesota	45°F	1388.79 ft	Oct 27
Lake Monona	Wisconsin	78°F	845.04 ft	Jul 6
Long Lake	Illinois	83°F	—	Jul 1
Jackson Park Outer Harbor Lake	Illinois	65°F	—	Sep 4
Lake Gogebic	Michigan	79°F	1295.53 ft	Jul 6
Mud Lake	Minnesota	—	972.78 ft	Jul 6
Leech Lake	Minnesota	—	94.71 ft	Jul 6
Green Lake	Wisconsin	—	6.68 ft	Jul 6
Geneva Lake	Wisconsin	—	864.13 ft	Jul 6
Houghton Lake	Michigan	—	1138.41 ft	Jul 6
Pleasant Lake	Wisconsin	—	980.67 ft	Jul 6
Lake Waubesa	Wisconsin	—	844.72 ft	Jul 6
Anvil Lake	Wisconsin	—	1692.74 ft	Jul 6
Channel Lake	Illinois	—	4.18 ft	Jul 6
Lake of the Woods	Minnesota	—	59.64 ft	Jul 6
Wind Lake	Wisconsin	—	8.21 ft	Jul 6
Lac Vieux Desert Lake	Wisconsin	—	1680.66 ft	Jul 6
Rathbun Lake	Iowa	—	906.3 ft	Jul 6
Clearwater Lake	Missouri	—	498.27 ft	Jul 6
Stockton Lake	Missouri	—	874.51 ft	Jul 6
Pike Lake	Indiana	—	5.91 ft	Jul 6
Dry Lake	North Dakota	—	1452.29 ft	Jul 6
Lake Ashtabula	North Dakota	—	1267.1 ft	Jul 6
Homme Dam Lake	North Dakota	—	1081.22 ft	Jul 6
Lake Kegonsa	Wisconsin	—	843.29 ft	Jul 6
Lake Koshkonong	Wisconsin	—	776.62 ft	Jul 6
Odana Pond	Wisconsin	—	0.51 ft	Jul 6
Lake Mendota	Wisconsin	—	850.06 ft	Jul 6
Fox Lake	Illinois	—	4.1 ft	Jul 6
Clear Lake	Iowa	—	5.1 ft	Jul 6
Caesar Creek Lake	Ohio	—	849.04 ft	Jul 6
Marceline Lake	Missouri	—	756.97 ft	Jul 6
White Earth Dam Lake	North Dakota	—	2153.54 ft	Jul 6
Nippersink Lake	Illinois	—	4.14 ft	Jul 6
Morrison Lake	North Dakota	—	1460.57 ft	Jul 6
Eastern Stump Lake	North Dakota	—	1451.27 ft	Jul 6
Crane Lake	Minnesota	—	17.88 ft	Jul 6
Mille Lacs Lake	Minnesota	—	10.99 ft	Jul 6
Orwell Lake	Minnesota	—	64.07 ft	Jul 6
Shaver Lake	Minnesota	—	929.21 ft	Jul 6
North Lake	Wisconsin	—	907.01 ft	Jul 6
Tiedman Pond	Wisconsin	—	0.94 ft	Jul 6
Devils Lake	Wisconsin	—	8.52 ft	Jul 6
Higgins Lake	Michigan	—	1153.9 ft	Jul 6
Mullett Lake	Michigan	—	593.46 ft	Jul 6
Seneca Lake	Ohio	—	833.28 ft	Jul 6
Leesville Lake	Ohio	—	963.06 ft	Jul 6
Clear Fork Reservoir	Ohio	—	1201.26 ft	Oct 1
Lake George	New York	—	319.41 ft	Jul 6
Chautauqua Lake	New York	—	1307.93 ft	Jul 6
Conesus Lake	New York	—	818.05 ft	Jul 6
Owasco Lake	New York	—	712.4 ft	Jul 6
Saratoga Lake	New York	—	202.72 ft	Jul 6
Edwin A Pape Lake	Missouri	—	709.34 ft	Jul 6
Lost Lake	Indiana	—	3.66 ft	Jul 6
Monroe Lake	Indiana	—	549.96 ft	Jul 6
Short Creek Dam Lake	North Dakota	—	1888 ft	Jul 6

Source: USGS National Water Information System. Real-time values are provisional and subject to revision.

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