Glossary
Pool guide
A pool guide is the operator’s published schedule of target elevations—full pool, winter pool, flood pool, and sometimes intermediate bands. It is the rulebook; a gauge reading is the measurement at a sensor.
Published May 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Why it matters
Frustration at the ramp often comes from comparing today's gauge to the wrong line in an old PDF—or mixing datums between tables. The pool guide tells you what the operator intends; the gauge tells you what is happening now.
Pool guide vs gauge
| Source | Answers |
|---|---|
| Pool guide elevation | What target applies this season or condition |
| Gauge stage | Measured water surface at a point, with datum metadata |
| Lake Insights thresholds | Catalog values aligned to published guides when available |
Reference information only. See data sources, editorial standards, or suggest a correction.