Lake levels and river flows
Where the water stands on Canyon Lake, the Guadalupe and the Comal, plus the status of each lake downstream. Gauge readings refresh about once an hour.
Right now
Canyon Lake
907.5 ft
1.5 ft below the 909 ft conservation pool
USGS reading, Oct 23, 12:15 AM
Guadalupe River at Sattler (below Canyon Dam)
103 cfs
Cubic feet per second
USGS reading, Oct 23, 12:20 AM
Guadalupe River above the Comal, New Braunfels
134 cfs
Cubic feet per second
USGS reading, Oct 23, 12:15 AM
Comal River at New Braunfels
143 cfs
Cubic feet per second
USGS reading, Oct 22, 11:45 PM
Live data from USGS gauges 08167700, 08167800, 08168500 and 08169000. Recent readings are provisional. Canyon Lake's conservation pool comes from the Texas Water Development Board, which also publishes percent full.
Guadalupe Valley lakes
Below New Braunfels, the river runs through a chain of small lakes held up by dams. These lakes are normally kept at a steady level, so “normal” means full. Last reviewed October 12, 2026.
Lake Dunlap
Normal level
New spill gates were finished and the lake was restored in October 2023.
Source: GBRA
Lake McQueeney
Normal level
Back to normal pool (528.83 ft above sea level) on April 21, 2026, after the dam was replaced.
Source: GBRA, Guadalupe Valley Lakes
Lake Placid
Normal level, two brief drops
Back to normal pool (497.83 ft) on April 20, 2026. The lake dropped unexpectedly on July 19, 2026 and refilled the next evening, and GBRA said it was investigating. It dropped again on the morning of September 2, 2026 and was expected to refill that afternoon.
Source: GBRA, Guadalupe Valley Lakes, Seguin Gazette, Lake McQueeney WCID 1
Lake Seguin
No recent official update found
The river is dammed at Max Starcke Park in Seguin. TPWD lists a 4-mile paddling trail from the park up to the SH 46 bridge.
Source: TPWD paddling trail
Meadow Lake
Low, dam replacement in planning
As of August 2026, the Nolte Dam design was waiting on state (TCEQ) review, with final design expected by the end of November 2026 if approval is timely. The lake district was still lining up financing, which it said could run into February 2027. Picking a contractor comes after that.
On the water
GBRA says the Guadalupe Valley lakes are designed to stay near normal pool, but rain, river flow and drought can still change levels. It keeps a 400-foot restricted zone upstream and downstream of each dam and asks boaters to stay well away from the dams. After heavy rain, floating debris and runoff can create hazards, and bacteria levels can rise, so check conditions before you get in.
Who to contact about each lake
GBRA runs the dams under agreements with each lake's water control and improvement district (WCID). For lake-specific questions, GBRA points people to the WCIDs and lake associations.
- Lake Dunlap: Lake Dunlap WCID and the Preserve Lake Dunlap Association
- Lake McQueeney: Lake McQueeney WCID 1 and Friends of Lake McQueeney
- Lake Placid: Lake Placid WCID 1 and Citizens United for Lake Placid
- Meadow Lake: Meadow Lake Nolte Dam Association
- GBRA: Guadalupe Valley Lakes updates, service requests, or 830-379-5822
Source: GBRA, Guadalupe Valley Lakes.
Why this matters if you're buying
A dam repair can leave a lake low for years. Dunlap, McQueeney and Placid each sat low while their dams were replaced. If you're looking at a home on one of these lakes, ask which district or authority runs the dam, whether the property pays a lake district (WCID) tax, and what the latest update says. I'm happy to walk you through what I know about a specific lake.