Spirit Lake Near Orleans Reservoir
As of July 26, 2026, Spirit Lake Near Orleans is holding 14 ft of water — 100% of normal storage for this date. Storage data refreshed throughout the day.
Spirit Lake Near Orleans
Spirit Lake is a natural freshwater lake located in Orleans, Iowa. The lake is a popular destination for recreational activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. It has a long history, having been formed over 13,000 years ago by glacial activity. The lake is fed by several small streams and has a drainage area of 86 square miles. The lake's water quality is closely monitored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and efforts are underway to improve water quality in the lake. The lake also serves as a critical source of water for agricultural irrigation and provides valuable snowpack for winter sports like snowmobiling and skiing. The lake is an integral part of the economy and culture of the surrounding communities in Iowa.
Daily levels at Spirit Lake Near Orleans
Storage volume, pool elevation, and total release plotted from the operating agency's daily observations.
Gage height, ft
ft · code 00065
Temperature, water, °C
deg C · code 00010
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 Spirit Lake Near Orleans -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines River At Jackson | 88 cfs | → |
| Ocheyedan River Near Spencer | 43 cfs | → |
| Little Sioux River At Linn Grove | 222 cfs | → |
| Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids | 32 cfs | → |
About Spirit Lake Near Orleans
What is the water level at Spirit Lake Near Orleans Reservoir right now?
As of July 26, 2026, Spirit Lake Near Orleans Reservoir is holding 14 ft, about 100% of normal for this date. Pool elevation and the year-over-year trend are shown above.
Is Spirit Lake Near Orleans 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 Spirit Lake Near Orleans 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.