9.22 ft local staff-gauge stage ft
level 0.2 ft above full pool — on the high side for mid-August
Reading comes straight from U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (USGS gauge 01455400) and updates live when you load this page.
Lake Hopatcong through the year
The band is the lake's own normal: where the level has run on each calendar day, 2013–2026. The summer drawdown — and how this year sits in it — shows up without reading a single number.
This year vs the years that matter
This year's trace against last year and the driest and wettest years on record — the drought-context question every lake regular asks.
- 2017 (wettest on record)
- 2015 (driest on record)
- 2025 (last year)
- 2026 (this year)
Full pool, datum, and the gauge
"Full pool" here means the conservation pool — the level the lake is designed to hold for water supply and recreation, not the flood-control space above it. The full explainer covers flood pool and dead pool too.
| Full pool | 9.00 ft local staff-gauge stage ft · per NJDEP (dam and water level plan); USGS gauge full-pool reference |
|---|---|
| Gauge | USGS gauge 01455400 · U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System |
| Datum | local staff-gauge stage ft — Gauge reports stage (00065) in ft on the local datum; the lake is 'full' at 9.0 ft (dam crest; NJDEP target near 9.0 May 1-Nov 19). Add 914.5 for NAVD88 elevation. Annual 22-26 in drawdown each winter; 5-ft drawdown every 5 years (next 2028). |
| Last verified | August 15, 2026 |
LakeDates reports lake level, not ramp status. Whether a given ramp or marina is usable at this level varies ramp by ramp — call the marina before you tow.
Quick answers
How full is Lake Hopatcong right now?
Lake Hopatcong is at 9.22 ft (local staff-gauge stage ft) as of August 14, 2026 — 0.2 ft above full pool — on the high side for mid-August
Is Lake Hopatcong full?
Yes and then some — at 9.22 ft, Lake Hopatcong is 0.2 ft above its full pool of 9.00 ft (local staff-gauge stage ft), using flood storage.
What is full pool for Lake Hopatcong?
Full pool (the conservation pool) for Lake Hopatcong is 9.00 ft local staff-gauge stage ft, per NJDEP (dam and water level plan); USGS gauge full-pool reference. Levels above it use flood storage; levels below it are drawdown.