Ward Lake water level · FL
Wind forecast, gusts, and gage height for small-craft sailing at Ward Lake (Ward Lake Near Bradenton).
Gage height recorded at USGS gauge 02300042, refreshed every 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the sensor.
4.16ft
recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM
−0.10ft
falling
+0.28ft
rising
3.87–4.24ft
lowest to highest
Recent daily readings
| Date | Level (ft) | Δ day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4● | 4.16 | ↓ 0.06 |
| Nov 3 | 4.22 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Nov 2 | 4.24 | ↑ 0.22 |
| Nov 1 | 4.02 | ↑ 0.14 |
| Oct 31 | 3.88 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 30 | 3.87 | 0 |
| Oct 29 | 3.87 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 28 | 3.88 | ↑ 0.01 |
| Oct 27 | 3.87 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 26 | 3.88 | 0 |
| Oct 25 | 3.88 | ↓ 0.02 |
| Oct 24 | 3.90 | 0 |
| Oct 23 | 3.90 | ↓ 0.01 |
| Oct 22 | 3.91 | — |
Readings fetched Nov 4, 7:22 AM; the chart above loads the latest data live from USGS.
Ward Lake water level questions
- What is the water level at Ward Lake today?
- 4.16 ft, recorded Nov 4, 7:00 AM at USGS gauge 02300042. The chart above refreshes live from the same gauge.
- Is Ward Lake rising or falling?
- rising — 0.28 ft over the last 7 days.
- How does this compare to normal for Ward Lake?
- Over the last 14 days the gauge has ranged from 3.87 ft to 4.24 ft; today's reading sits near the top of that range.
- Where does the water level data for Ward Lake come from?
- USGS gauge 02300042 (Ward Lake Near Bradenton), which reports every 15 minutes to 1 hour. Readings are provisional until reviewed by the USGS.
- What is the water temperature at Ward Lake?
- 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 02300042
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
- 27.4414°, -82.4876°
- USGS gauge
- 02300042
- Water temp sensor
- Yes
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. Southeast lake wind is often a thermal: light mornings building to a steady breeze by mid-afternoon, with squall lines ahead of cold fronts in the cooler months. Pop-up thunderstorms are the main hazard from June through September.
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