Outlook
Middle estimate, with the range the level has an 8 in 10 chance of landing in. The bars share one scale: change from today.
Rises are harder to call. Heavy rain in the watershed can push the lake above these ranges within days.
- Rain, past 7 days
- 0.0 in0 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 0.4 in9 mm normal 1.0 in25 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Houston County Lake with the dam, level gauge and 2 public boat ramps.
- Dam
- Level gauge
- Public boat ramp
Ramp locations from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Whether a ramp is open depends on the lake level; check the operator.
Level and outlook
FeetMeters above sea level
- Measured
- Middle estimate
- 8 in 10 range
- Full pool
Show outlook as a table
| Date | Low end | Middle | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2 | 259.078.95 | 259.178.97 | 259.279.00 |
| Nov 9 | 259.078.94 | 259.278.99 | 259.479.06 |
| Nov 25 | 258.978.92 | 259.379.02 | 259.979.23 |
How well this outlook has done here
We tested the 2-week outlook on past years at this lake, as if made once a week with only what was known that day.
- On average it was off by
- 0.16 ft0.05 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.22 ft0.07 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 81% of 428 tests; the range is built to catch 8 in 10
The rise chance uses the same threshold for every lake: 1 ft (0.3048 m).
Connected lakes
Water from upstream lakes flows into this one; water released here flows on downstream.
Downstream
Nearby lakes
Closest lakes in a straight line, with today's level.
- Lake Jacksonville39 mi62 km away · 421.0 ft128.31 m · 95%
- Lake Limestone43 mi69 km away · 359.9 ft109.70 m · 82%
- Lake Palestine46 mi74 km away · 342.8 ft104.49 m · 87%
- Lake Nacogdoches47 mi76 km away · 275.6 ft84.00 m · 83%
- Lake Striker52 mi83 km away · 290.5 ft88.54 m · 72%
- Lake Athens56 mi91 km away · 439.4 ft133.94 m · 97%
About Houston County Lake
Houston County Lake is a water-supply reservoir on Little Elkhart Creek in Houston County, built in 1966 and owned by the Houston County Water Control and Improvement District. Its outflow reaches the Trinity River above Lake Livingston.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 260.0 ft79.25 m
- Highest level since 1999
- 264.6 ft80.63 m, Jun 2001
- Lowest level since 1999
- 255.8 ft77.97 m, Nov 2011
- Surface area at normal pool
- 1,282 acres519 ha
- Conservation storage
- 17,113 acre-feet21 million m³
- Dam
- Houston County Lake Dam, 1966
- River or creek
- Little Elkhart Creek
- County
- Houston
- Owner
- Houston County WCID 1
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NGVD29).
Common questions
Is Houston County Lake full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 259.1 ft, 0.9 ft below full pool (260.0 ft), holding 93% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 78.98 m, 0.27 m below full pool (79.25 m), holding 93% of its conservation storage.
Is Houston County Lake going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 259.0 ft and 259.4 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is under 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 78.94 m and 79.06 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is under 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.
Where does this data come from?
Daily levels come from the Texas Water Development Board and lake operators. The outlook is our own statistical model, using recent levels and forecast rain over the watershed.