Scott Lake Water Level
As of Jun 8, 2026, Scott Lake measured 951.37 ft — 4.4 in. above its summer target of 951.00 ft.
| Date | Level (ft) | Change | vs target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2026 | 951.37 | -0.18 | +0.37 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 951.55 | 0.00 | +0.55 |
| May 25, 2026 | 951.55 | +0.03 | +0.55 |
| May 18, 2026 | 951.52 | +0.32 | +0.52 |
| May 11, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
| May 4, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
| Apr 13, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 951.20 | 0.00 | +0.20 |
Most recent published readings for Scott 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 Scott Lake
In central Oakland County, Scott Lake is a managed inland lake — its level is not left to chance but held to court-ordered seasonal targets by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. That legal framework, set under Michigan's Inland Lake Level Act, is what keeps shoreline conditions broadly consistent from one year to the next. This page tracks the WRC's published readings for the lake so owners and visitors can see where it stands today.
Scott Lake legal water levels
Scott Lake is managed to a single legal elevation of 951.00 feet above sea level rather than a summer/winter pair. Its court order does not call for a separate winter drawdown, so the WRC aims to hold the lake near 951.00 feet throughout the year, accommodating the natural rise and fall that weather and inflow bring. Readings that drift well away from 951.00 feet for an extended stretch are the ones worth watching.
Where is Scott Lake?
By elevation, Scott Lake lies near 951 feet above sea level — the same figure as its summer target, since that target is measured against sea level. The lake is centered around 42.610° N, 83.389° W in central Oakland County; you can view it on Google Maps for a sense of its layout.
Seasonal water-level rhythm at Scott Lake
Scott Lake does not have a programmed winter drawdown, so its year mostly tracks the weather around a steady 951.00-foot target. Spring melt is typically the wettest, highest stretch, summer evaporation tends to pull it down, and the WRC adjusts outflow to keep it near 951.00 feet. A reading that sits well off that mark for several weeks is the kind of trend worth noting.
What level changes mean for Scott Lake shoreline owners
Shoreline owners on Scott Lake feel level changes directly — in boat and dock access, in how much beach is exposed, in seawall wear, and in groundwater near lakeside basements. Fishing and swimming depth shift with it too. The court-ordered targets are essentially a compromise that tries to keep all of those uses workable, which is why residents tend to track the lake against its target rather than in isolation.
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 Scott Lake?
A legal level is one set by a judge under Michigan's Inland Lake Level Act (Part 307 of Public Act 451). For Scott 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: