Pontiac Lake Water Level
As of Jun 8, 2026, Pontiac Lake measured 963.43 ft — 7.2 in. above its summer target of 962.83 ft.
| Date | Level (ft) | Change | vs target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2026 | 963.43 | -0.17 | +0.60 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 963.60 | -0.13 | +0.77 |
| May 25, 2026 | 963.73 | +0.13 | +0.90 |
| May 18, 2026 | 963.60 | -0.05 | +0.77 |
| May 11, 2026 | 963.65 | 0.00 | +0.82 |
| May 4, 2026 | 963.65 | -0.07 | +0.82 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 963.72 | -0.56 | +0.89 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 964.28 | +0.33 | +1.45 |
| Apr 13, 2026 | 963.95 | +0.35 | +1.79 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 963.60 | +0.20 | +1.44 |
Most recent published readings for Pontiac Lake, sourced from Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner reports. Last updated Jun 15, 2026. "Change" is the difference from the previous reading; "vs target" compares each reading to the legal level then in effect.
About Pontiac Lake
Pontiac Lake is part of the network of 29 Oakland County inland lakes monitored on this site. Sitting in central Oakland County, it carries legally established water-level targets that the County Water Resources Commissioner works to maintain season to season. Rather than leaving residents to dig through the county's periodic PDF bulletins, this dashboard collects each new reading for Pontiac Lake and plots it alongside current and forecast weather.
Pontiac Lake legal water levels
Under its court order, Pontiac Lake carries a summer target of 962.83 feet and a winter target of 962.16 feet above sea level. The roughly 8.0-inch seasonal swing between them is deliberate rather than accidental: the winter drawdown makes space for spring inflow and protects fixed structures from ice, while the summer level keeps the lake usable through the warm months. The WRC manages outflow at the lake's control structure to stay near whichever target is in season.
Where is Pontiac Lake?
Pontiac Lake sits at roughly 962.8 feet above sea level. Its approximate center is 42.664° N, 83.435° W, in central Oakland County. Open the lake in Google Maps to see its shape and surroundings.
Seasonal water-level rhythm at Pontiac Lake
Pontiac Lake has a seasonal rhythm worth knowing. Spring inflow tends to be the high-water stretch as the lake climbs toward 962.83 feet, the summer target. Through summer, evaporation and controlled release generally hold or lower it, and the managed drawdown toward 962.16 feet ahead of winter is normal — not a sign of a problem. Comparing today's reading to the in-season target is the simplest way to judge conditions.
What level changes mean for Pontiac Lake shoreline owners
On Pontiac Lake, small changes in level have real consequences. A foot low and shallow ramps and fixed docks can become unusable; a foot high and erosion, flooded shoreline, and pressure on seawalls become the concern. The legal targets are set to keep the lake inside the range that most docks, beaches, and shoreline structures were built for, which is why a persistent drift away from target matters.
How Oakland County manages lake water levels
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner — currently Jim Nash — is responsible for maintaining the legal water levels of monitored lakes in the county. The WRC operates and maintains a network of small dams, weirs, and lake-level control structures, and contracts survey teams to read each lake's reference gauge regularly.
Reading frequency varies by season: during the active spring–autumn window the WRC typically publishes a report every one to three weeks, scaling back through the winter when ice and stable inflows make daily fluctuations smaller. The numbers shown on this dashboard come directly from those official reports — we re-publish and plot them so trends are easier to see than scrolling through PDFs.
If you ever spot a reading on this page that looks suspicious, the authoritative source is the WRC's own bulletin. Long-term trends (multiple months) matter more for management decisions than any individual measurement, which can drift slightly from week to week depending on gauge accuracy, weather, and the time of day a reading was taken.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the data on this page updated?
Our automated scraper checks the Oakland County WRC's published reports twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday evenings) during the active reporting season. When a new reading is posted by the county, this dashboard reflects it within a few hours. During winter the WRC reports less frequently, so updates may be sparse.
What does "legal water level" mean for Pontiac Lake?
A legal level is one set by a judge under Michigan's Inland Lake Level Act (Part 307 of Public Act 451). For Pontiac Lake the order specifies the summer and winter elevations shown above. The WRC and the lake's improvement board are jointly responsible for taking reasonable steps to maintain those levels through dam operation and outflow control.
What can I do if I think the water level is wrong?
Bring it up with your Lake Improvement Board or contact the Oakland County WRC directly. Individual weekly readings can be off by a fraction of an inch due to gauge tolerance, but a clear weeks-long trend is what calls for action.
Where does this data come from?
All readings shown here are aggregated from publicly published reports of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. The original PDF bulletins are available on oakgov.com. We add nothing to the source numbers — we only re-format and plot them.
Is this an official county website?
No. LakeWatch is an independent community resource. It is not affiliated with Oakland County, the Water Resources Commissioner's office, or any specific Lake Improvement Board. The data is sourced from public records and republished as a courtesy to lakefront residents and visitors.
Other Oakland County lakes
LakeWatch monitors 29 inland lakes across Oakland County, Michigan. If you live on, fish, or boat a different lake nearby, jump straight to its dashboard: