Here is the latest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forecast for Fort Peck Reservoir, based on the Aug. 4, 2026 study.
Forecasted lake elevation:
- July 31: 2,223.9 ft
- August 31: 2,223.3 ft
- September 30: 2,222.0 ft
- October 31: 2,221.2 ft
- November 30: 2,220.3 ft
- December 31: 2,218.3 ft
- January 31: 2,216.9 ft
- February 28: 2,216.0 ft
That puts Fort Peck about 7.9 feet lower by the end of February compared with the July 31 elevation of 2,223.9 feet.
The forecast calls for the biggest declines during the winter months, particularly December through February, as releases increase to roughly 9,000–9,500 cfs.
There are three forecast scenarios in the report. The basic condition has Fort Peck at 2,216.0 feet in February. The lower and upper scenarios range from 2,214.5 to 2,218.3 feet, showing how much future runoff and water conditions could affect the lake level.
This is a forecast, so it will change as actual inflows, precipitation and winter conditions become clearer.
Feature photo via FWP
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