― KEUKA LAKE LEVEL - FOUR YEARS ―
Gate 1: Open 5 in.
Gate 2: Closed
Gate 3: Closed
Gate 4: Closed
Gate 5: Closed
Gate 6: Closed
Total Discharge: 19.52 CFS
Notes
- The lake has never been this high (or low) before... really? view Historical Levels
- Mean High Water Level – 715.3'
Official value which was defined many years ago from historical high water measurements and is referred to as the National Tidal Datum Epoch. This is a key point for all lake shore property owners which defines boundaries. - Low Water Level - 712.5’
The property boundary between the State of NY and shoreline property owners.
The New York State DEC regulates the use and development of land between the low water level (712.5’) and the mean high water level (715.3’), even when this property is privately owned. - New gates were completed in November of 1993
- Top of dam: 716.04'
- 100 Year Flood Level - 720.8'
Flood level that has a 1% chance of occurring each year, used by most Federal and State agencies, including FEMA, for flood plain management and the National Flood Insurance Program. - Miniumum Outflow
Minimum allowed water outflow is 20 cubic feet per second (CFS), to allow adequate Penn Yan wastewater treatment plant discharge dilution. - Normal Maximum Outflow
Normal maximum allowed water outflow is limited to 1,000 cubic feet per second (CFS), to minimize any potential downstream damage. Exceeding this amount should only happen during high water emergency periods, requiring KLOC to declare Condition B, which is a non-failure emergency condition. - For more details on outflow read how total discharge is calculated.
- All lake level values are shown in feet above sea level per NGVD29 datum.
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), and NYSDEC typically currently use NGVD 29 datum. However, it is probably only a matter of time before the government agencies convert to using NAVD 88 datum, which for our area is about 0.51 ft. higher. When looking at drawings, surveys, or other elevation information, make sure that you know which datum is being utilized. If it is per NAVD 88 datum, just subtract 0.51 ft. from that value to correlate with NGVD 29 elevations.
Lake Level Committee
Wayne Hand, Chair
Nolan Smith, Co-Chair
Bill Laffin
Steve Brigham
Darryl Heckle
Rory Long
Rob Dintruff
Scott Demmin (ND)
contact committeeLake level readings are obtained from the recording device installed at the Penn Yan Water Treatment Plant, updated every two hours. The curves on the chart reflect the last reading of every day.
When the lake level raises above the height of the dam at 716 ft., all gates are closed and water spills over the top of the dam with no ability to regulate the outflow.
THE KLA DOES NOT CONTROL THE LAKE LEVEL
KLOC (Keuka Lake Outlet Compact), an inter-municipal corporation consisting of senior leaders from the eight municipalities around the lake shoreline, has ultimate responsibility for management of water levels and upkeep of the outlet gates. The recommended process for daily operation and management of the gates is outlined in the "Reservoir Regulation Manual-Keuka Lake Outlet" (developed by the Army Corps of Engineers), which describes the purpose and the procedures for maintaining the lake level. The Chair of the KLOC and the Director of Public Works for the Penn Yan Municipal Utility Board (contracted to operate the outlet gates) consult on a regular basis to determine if the gate settings need to be changed to increase or decrease the outflow or discharge of water from the lake.
For more information regarding lake level management, please refer to the Keuka Lake Water Level Management page shown below under related pages.
RELATED PAGES
Keuka Lake Water Level ManagementKeuka Lake Outlet Compact (KLOC) History
Keuka Lake - Calculating Total Discharge
USGS gauge in Dresden showing outlet water flow into Seneca Lake
Keuka Lake - Discharge Calculator
Hammondsport USGS Lake Level Gauge
Keuka Lake - Lake Level & Gate Setting History
NOAA Weather Forecast for Hammondsport
NOAA Weather Forecast for Penn Yan
Lake Level of Seneca Lake at Geneva
Cayuga Lake Level
Oswego River Basin - Downstream From Keuka
USGS Stream Flow Stations in NY
NOAA Weather Stations
Cayuga Lake Level & Oswego River Basin YouTube video - USGS hydrologist
Keuka Watershed Improvement Cooperative (KWIC) History