Lake Traverse water level · MN
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Lake Traverse (Lake Traverse At Reservation Dam Near Wheaton).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 05049700, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
76.86ft
recorded Nov 4, 6:00 AM
−0.04ft
falling
+0.14ft
rising
76.66–76.94ft
lowest to highest
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 76.86 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Nov 3 | 76.85 | ↓ 0.09 |
| Nov 2 | 76.94 | ↑ 0.17 |
| Nov 1 | 76.77 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Oct 31 | 76.75 | ↑ 0.02 |
| Oct 30 | 76.73 | 0 |
| Oct 29 | 76.73 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 28 | 76.72 | ↑ 0.03 |
| Oct 27 | 76.69 | ↑ 0.03 |
| Oct 26 | 76.66 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 25 | 76.68 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 24 | 76.70 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 23 | 76.71 | ↑ 0.03 |
| Oct 22 | 76.68 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 7:12 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Lake Traverse water level questions
- What is the water level at Lake Traverse today?
- 76.86 ft, recorded Nov 4, 6:00 AM at USGS gauge 05049700. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Lake Traverse rising or falling?
- rising — 0.14 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Lake Traverse?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 76.66 ft to 76.94 ft; today's reading sits near the top of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Lake Traverse come from?
- USGS gauge 05049700 (Lake Traverse At Reservation Dam Near Wheaton), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Lake Traverse?
- This gauge has no live water-temperature sensor — the fishing tab shows a seasonal estimate based on air temperature.
Gage height history
Gage height · USGS gauge 05049700
Reading the chart. This gauge reports gage height — the depth of water above the sensor reference point, not absolute elevation. Trends matter more than the absolute number: a falling trend means shrinking launch depth.
Water levels respond to dam operations, irrigation drawdown, snowmelt, and recent rainfall. For launch decisions, combine the trend here with the wind forecast — low water plus strong wind makes steep, tired ramps.
About this lake
- Location
- 45.7686°, -96.6387°
- Gauge datum
- 977 ft
- USGS gauge
- 05049700
- Water temp sensor
- No
Water level data comes from the USGS gauge above; wind is modeled for the lake’s coordinates by Open-Meteo. Always confirm conditions locally before launching — shorelines, ramps, and trees can all change what you feel on the water. Midwest lakes are dominated by pre-frontal south winds that build through the day, then swing northwest sharply behind a cold front — the shift can arrive in minutes and double the gusts, especially on east–west basins.
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