Which lakes have live conditions data?

Only lakes with an active USGS real-time gauge — 74 lakes across our 12 states, 9 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 water-quality grades 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

Current water temperature and water level for the 74 lakes across our 12 states with an active USGS real-time gauge. 9 report live water temperature; the rest report water level or reservoir elevation. Readings are the latest captured as of Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM — follow any lake for the live USGS feed.

Coverage is limited to gauged lakes. Most lakes have no continuous monitor, so they carry water-quality grades and seasonal data instead of a live reading.

Lake	State	Grade	Water Temp	Level	As Of
West Okoboji Lake	Iowa	A	49°F	4.63 ft	Jul 6
Lake Taneycomo	Missouri	B	50°F	702.08 ft	Jul 6
Unnamed Lake	Minnesota	C	45°F	1388.79 ft	Oct 27
Lake Gogebic	Michigan	C	79°F	1295.53 ft	Jul 6
Lake Darling	North Dakota	D	68°F	1598.08 ft	Jul 6
Lake Monona	Wisconsin	D	78°F	845.04 ft	Jul 6
Jackson Park Outer Harbor Lake	Illinois	D	65°F	—	Sep 4
Long Lake	Illinois	D	83°F	—	Jul 1
Storm Lake Max Depth	Iowa	D	83°F	13.82 ft	Jul 6
Geneva Lake	Wisconsin	A	—	864.13 ft	Jul 6
North Lake	Wisconsin	A	—	907.01 ft	Jul 6
Higgins Lake	Michigan	A	—	1153.9 ft	Jul 6
Lake George	New York	A	—	319.41 ft	Jul 6
Pleasant Lake	Wisconsin	A	—	980.67 ft	Jul 6
Anvil Lake	Wisconsin	A	—	1692.74 ft	Jul 6
Leech Lake	Minnesota	B	—	94.71 ft	Jul 6
Mille Lacs Lake	Minnesota	B	—	10.99 ft	Jul 6
Mud Lake	Minnesota	B	—	972.78 ft	Jul 6
Mullett Lake	Michigan	B	—	593.46 ft	Jul 6
Conesus Lake	New York	B	—	818.05 ft	Jul 6
Owasco Lake	New York	B	—	712.4 ft	Jul 6
Saratoga Lake	New York	B	—	202.72 ft	Jul 6
Stockton Lake	Missouri	B	—	874.51 ft	Jul 6
Green Lake	Wisconsin	B	—	6.68 ft	Jul 6
Houghton Lake	Michigan	B	—	1138.41 ft	Jul 6
Lake Ashtabula	North Dakota	B	—	1267.1 ft	Jul 6
Homme Dam Lake	North Dakota	B	—	1081.22 ft	Jul 6
Lac Vieux Desert Lake	Wisconsin	C	—	1680.66 ft	Jul 6
Devils Lake	Wisconsin	C	—	8.52 ft	Jul 6
Channel Lake	Illinois	C	—	4.18 ft	Jul 6
Chautauqua Lake	New York	C	—	1307.93 ft	Jul 6
Short Creek Dam Lake	North Dakota	C	—	1888 ft	Jul 6
White Earth Dam Lake	North Dakota	C	—	2153.54 ft	Jul 6
Clearwater Lake	Missouri	C	—	498.27 ft	Jul 6
Longview Lake by Dam	Missouri	C	—	891.14 ft	Jul 6
H.S. Truman Res. Nr. Dam Lake	Missouri	C	—	707.89 ft	Jul 6
Lake of the Woods	Minnesota	C	—	59.64 ft	Jul 6
Orwell Lake	Minnesota	C	—	64.07 ft	Jul 6
Lake Kegonsa	Wisconsin	C	—	843.29 ft	Jul 6
Lake Mendota	Wisconsin	C	—	850.06 ft	Jul 6
Devils Lake	North Dakota	C	—	1451.62 ft	Jul 6
Caesar Creek Lake	Ohio	D	—	849.04 ft	Jul 6
Long Branch Lk. Lake	Missouri	D	—	794.13 ft	Jul 6
Crane Lake	Minnesota	D	—	17.88 ft	Jul 6
Shaver Lake	Minnesota	D	—	929.21 ft	Jul 6
Wind Lake	Wisconsin	D	—	8.21 ft	Jul 6
Lake Waubesa	Wisconsin	D	—	844.72 ft	Jul 6
Fox Lake	Illinois	D	—	4.1 ft	Jul 6
Nippersink Lake	Illinois	D	—	4.14 ft	Jul 6
Van Etten Lake	Michigan	D	—	588.64 ft	Jul 6
Cisco Lake	Michigan	D	—	1683.55 ft	Jul 6
Rathbun Lake	Iowa	D	—	906.3 ft	Jul 6
Leesville Lake	Ohio	D	—	963.06 ft	Jul 6
Smithville Lake	Missouri	D	—	864.18 ft	Jul 6
Blue Springs L. Nr. Dam Lake	Missouri	D	—	802.18 ft	Jul 6
Lost Lake	Indiana	D	—	3.66 ft	Jul 6
Monroe Lake	Indiana	D	—	549.96 ft	Jul 6
Buck Creek Lake	Ohio	D	—	1012.01 ft	Jul 6
Dry Lake	North Dakota	D	—	1452.29 ft	Jul 6
Clear Lake	Iowa	D	—	5.1 ft	Jul 6
Pomme de Terre Lake	Missouri	F	—	847.72 ft	Jul 6
Marceline Lake	Missouri	F	—	756.97 ft	Jul 6
Edwin A Pape Lake	Missouri	F	—	709.34 ft	Jul 6
Eastern Stump Lake	North Dakota	F	—	1451.27 ft	Jul 6
Turtle Lake	Minnesota	F	—	874.73 ft	Nov 14
Lake Koshkonong	Wisconsin	F	—	776.62 ft	Jul 6
Tiedman Pond	Wisconsin	F	—	0.94 ft	Jul 6
Odana Pond	Wisconsin	F	—	0.51 ft	Jul 6
Black Hawk Lake	Iowa	F	—	7.69 ft	Jul 6
Seneca Lake	Ohio	F	—	833.28 ft	Jul 6
Tappan Lake	Ohio	F	—	899.35 ft	Jul 6
Clear Fork Reservoir	Ohio	F	—	1201.26 ft	Oct 1
Pike Lake	Indiana	F	—	5.91 ft	Jul 6
Morrison Lake	North Dakota	F	—	1460.57 ft	Jul 6

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

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