WATER SURFACE ELEVATION

(1) Generally, the elevation of a water surface above or below an established reference level, such as (mean) seal level. (2) The height, in relation to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) of 1929, or other datum, of a body of water or, for flood determination, for the specification of floods of various magnitudes and frequencies in the floodplains or coastal or riverine areas. Also see Mean Sea Level (MSL).