San Luis Reservoir
As of July 26, 2026, San Luis Reservoir is holding 968,306 acre-ft of water — 71% of normal storage for this date. Storage data refreshed throughout the day.
San Luis Reservoir
San Luis Reservoir is located in Merced County, California and was created in 1967 by the construction of the San Luis Dam. The reservoir has a capacity of 2,041,000 acre-feet and is the fifth-largest reservoir in California. The reservoir serves as a critical source of water for the Central Valley Project, providing irrigation water for more than 600,000 acres of farmland. The reservoir also serves as a recreational destination, with boating, fishing, and camping opportunities available. The hydrology of the reservoir is largely dependent on surface flows from the San Joaquin River and snowpack melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. San Luis Reservoir is managed by the California Department of Water Resources and plays a crucial role in meeting the water needs of both agricultural and urban areas in California.
Daily levels at San Luis Reservoir
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Storage
acre-ft · code 2
Pool Elevation
ft · code 1
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around San Luis Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pacheco C Nr Dunneville Ca | · | → |
| Orestimba C Nr Newman Ca | · | → |
| Coyote C Nr Gilroy Ca | · | → |
| Mud Slough Nr Gustine Ca | 8 cfs | → |
| Tres Pinos C Nr Tres Pinos Ca | 4 cfs | → |
| San Benito R A Hwy 156 Nr Hollister Ca | · | → |
About San Luis Reservoir
What is the water level at San Luis Reservoir right now?
As of July 26, 2026, San Luis Reservoir is holding 968,306 acre-ft, about 71% of normal for this date. Pool elevation and the year-over-year trend are shown above.
Is San Luis Reservoir high or low right now?
Compare the percent-of-normal figure on this page: above 100% means storage is higher than the historical average for the date (a wet year), below 100% means lower (a dry year or drought). The daily-levels chart shows the current trend.
Where does the data for San Luis Reservoir come from?
Daily storage, pool elevation, and release rates are sourced from USGS, USBR, and USACE monitoring stations. Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
Storage observations are updated daily by the operating agency. The 15-day weather forecast refreshes throughout the day. Snoflo caches and renders the most recent observation -- check the "as of" timestamp on the storage card.
What does the Hazard hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card below for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this reservoir, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.