You’re driving over the bridge in Kerrville, glancing down at the water, and you think you know exactly what’s happening with Nimitz Lake. It looks full. Or maybe it looks a little sluggish. But honestly, the Nimitz Lake level today isn't just about how it looks from your car window. It's a complex dance between the Guadalupe River’s mood swings and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) management.
As of January 16, 2026, the water surface elevation at Nimitz Lake is hovering right around its conservation pool level of 1,621.0 feet above mean sea level.
If you check the latest data from the NOAA and USGS gauges nearby—specifically the Guadalupe River at Kerrville (KRRT2)—the gauge height is sitting at approximately 2.37 feet, which translates to a water surface elevation of about 1,602.37 feet at the gauge datum. Now, don't let those numbers confuse you. The lake itself is held back by the Nimitz Dam, meaning the water level stays relatively consistent compared to the free-flowing parts of the river, provided we aren't in a massive flood or a bone-dry drought.
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The 2025 "Ghost" Flood and Why It Matters Now
Last July, specifically on July 4, 2025, this area saw a massive surge. The Guadalupe River at Kerrville hit a recent historic crest of 37.51 feet. That’s a wall of water. While that event is months behind us, it changed the lake's physical makeup.
Floods bring sediment. Lots of it.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has noted in the past that sediment accumulation is heaviest near the Highway 98 bridge and right up against the dam. When you're looking at Nimitz Lake today, you might see "full" water, but underneath, the lake is actually getting shallower. The total capacity is roughly 735 acre-feet, but every major rain event like the one last summer pushes more Hill Country silt into the bottom, displacing the water we actually want to keep.
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Current Conditions and Water Temperature
Kinda chilly out there? The fish think so too.
The UGRA recently clocked the surface water temperature at Nimitz Dam at 57.4°F.
- Water Clarity: Generally fair, though winter runoff can make it a bit murky.
- River Flow: The Guadalupe River above Bear Creek is currently flowing at a steady but modest 43.3 CFS (cubic feet per second).
- The Dam Factor: Since Nimitz is a "run-of-the-river" impoundment, what comes in usually goes out.
Honestly, the lake is behaving itself right now. We aren't seeing the frantic lows of a D4 exceptional drought, nor the terrifying heights of last summer. It's a "maintenance mode" kind of day for the reservoir.
Why You Should Care About 1,621 Feet
That 1,621-foot mark is the magic number. It’s where the City of Kerrville likes to keep things so they can pull surface water for the treatment plant. If the level drops significantly below this, the city has to rely more on groundwater, which is a much bigger headache for everyone’s utility bills.
Right now, Kerr County is under a Burn Ban (as of January 3, 2026), which usually signals that while the lake looks okay, the surrounding vegetation is drying out. Dry land means the next rain might just soak in rather than running off to fill the lake further.
Fishing and Recreation Update
If you're heading out to Louise Hays Park or Lehmann & Monroe Park today, the banks are stable. The largemouth bass are deep and slow due to that sub-60-degree water. Local anglers are reporting some luck with slow-moving jigs near the dam structures, but don't expect the topwater explosions you get in June.
One thing people often forget: Nimitz Lake is small. Only 95 acres.
Because it’s small, it reacts fast. A heavy rain in Hunt or Ingram will show up here in a matter of hours.
Actionable Steps for Today
If you are planning to use the lake or are just tracking the water for your property, here is what you actually need to do:
Check the "Gage 0" Datum: When looking at USGS or NOAA sites, always add the gauge zero (1601.14 feet) to the current stage height to get the actual elevation above sea level. This prevents you from misinterpreting a "2-foot" reading as the lake being empty.
Watch the Hunt Gauges: If you see the CFS (flow) spiking at the Guadalupe River at Hunt, expect Nimitz Lake levels to rise and get turbid within 4 to 6 hours. This is your early warning system for kayaking or fishing.
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Mind the Burn Ban: Even if you're near the water, the county-wide burn ban is in effect. Don't be the person who starts a brush fire next to a beautiful lake.
Conserve Anyway: Even with the lake at conservation pool, the Hill Country is in a cycle of "flash droughts." Keeping your outdoor watering to the early morning hours helps maintain those river levels for everyone downstream.
The lake is stable today, but in the Texas Hill Country, "stable" is always a temporary condition. Keep an eye on the upstream flow and enjoy the glass-calm water while it lasts.