El Capitan Reservoir water level today
Lake in San Diego County, California
At a glance · Oct 23
El Capitan Reservoir is 51.0 ft lower than normal for Oct 23, lower than on this date in all of the last 9 years.
- This week→ Steady
- Lowest on record↓ 637.90 ft (2026)
Compared with this gauge's own records for the same date. A statistical guide, not advice.
Today compared with past years on Oct 23
Where today's reading sits among this gauge's own records for the same date (±3 days). A statistical guide, not advice.
What this means
It is lower than on Oct 23 in every one of the last 9 years on record.
The lake has fallen 0.08 ft in 7 days and risen 0.04 ft in 30 days.
Since 1988, the lowest daily level was 637.90 ft (Oct 2026) and the highest 750.27 ft (Mar 1993).
El Capitan Reservoir level chart
Loading chart…
2026 compared with 2025
Each year drawn on the same January–December axis, over this gauge's normal range for each date. Hover or tap a point for its value.
Same date in past years
| Date | Level | vs today |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2024 | 678.87 ft | ▲ 40.70 ft |
| Oct 23, 2023 | 689.17 ft | ▲ 51.00 ft |
| Oct 23, 2022 | 667.47 ft | ▲ 29.30 ft |
| Oct 23, 2021 | 672.07 ft | ▲ 33.90 ft |
| Oct 23, 2020 | 690.38 ft | ▲ 52.21 ft |
| Oct 23, 2019 | 691.51 ft | ▲ 53.34 ft |
| Oct 23, 2018 | 671.84 ft | ▲ 33.67 ft |
| Oct 23, 2017 | 687.63 ft | ▲ 49.46 ft |
| Oct 23, 2016 | 664.88 ft | ▲ 26.71 ft |
Records & details
- Highest
- 750.27 ft on Mar 29, 1993
- Lowest
- 637.90 ft on Oct 8, 2026
- Records from
- 1988 (38 years of daily data)
- Storage
- 9,106 acre-ft
- Water temperature
- Not measured here
El Capitan
- Height
- 237 ft
- Completed
- 1934
- Purposes
- Water Supply
- Owner
- City of San Diego
- Surface area
- 1,562 acres
National Inventory of Dams (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). All dam facts →
Boat ramps on El Capitan Reservoir
2 ramps without a name, on the map: 12
2 ramps listed. Links open the ramp's location on OpenStreetMap. Check the managing agency for closures, especially at low water. All California boat ramps →
Weather & wind
Wind W 5 to 10 mph
Wind NE 0 to 5 mph
Wind NW 0 to 10 mph
Wind NE 0 to 5 mph
Wind NW 0 to 5 mph
Wind N 5 to 10 mph
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for this lake's location, updated 16 min ago.