Water surface elevations at the Great Salt Lake's Saltair Boat Harbor measured 4,191.0 feet on the morning of July 17, 2026, according to real-time monitoring data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The current level sits below the long-term median elevation for this period, reflecting ongoing fluctuations in the lake's water volume.
Real-time water level monitoring details
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided provisional continuous data showing that the lake level at the Saltair Boat Harbor site recorded 4,191.0 feet at 1:45 AM MDT on July 17. This measurement follows a period of minor fluctuations throughout the early morning hours, with readings ranging from 4,190.7 feet to 4,191.1 feet between midnight and 1:45 AM.
These real-time figures are part of a continuous data stream that has been monitored at this specific location since October 1, 2007. The monitoring station, identified as USGS site number 10010000, utilizes automated sensors to track the lake or reservoir water surface elevation above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 1929).
Comparison to historical water averages
When compared against a historical record spanning from 1847 to 2026, the current elevation of 4,191.0 feet is notably lower than the established median for this time of year. USGS statistics based on 36 years of daily mean data indicate that the median water surface elevation typically sits at 4,196.56 feet.
The current level also trends toward the lower end of the historical spectrum. The survey's data shows that the 25th percentile for water elevation is 4,194.125 feet, while the 75th percentile is significantly higher at 4,200.15 feet. For context, the recorded high for this period reaches 4,203.7 feet, and the historical low is documented at 4,190.0 feet.
Hydrologic basin and site specifications
The monitoring site is located in Salt Lake County within the Great Salt Lake subbasin hydrologic unit (16020310). The station's precise location is documented at a latitude of 40.7313332884509 and a longitude of -112.213556851623, situated near the Saltair Boat Harbor.
The drainage area contributing to this portion of the lake is estimated at 22,060 square miles. The USGS maintains that the altitude of the gage or land surface at this location is approximately 4,186.8 feet.
Ongoing environmental monitoring efforts
The data provided by the USGS for July 17, 2026, remains provisional. The agency continues to collect continuous data through automated sensors, which allows for tracking the lake's response to environmental changes in real-time.
In addition to elevation, the monitoring location provides access to various other observed properties and sampling activities, with discrete sample data available for certain periods dating back to 1960. The site is part of a larger network of monitoring locations used to track the health and volume of Utah's critical water resources.
