Water covers more than 220,000 acres of East Tennessee, with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) reservoirs and rivers draining some 20,000 square miles. By navigating a series if locks and canals, you can travel by boat from Tennessee to the Atlantic Ocean. Cherokee Reservoir In a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Cherokee Reservoir varies about 30 feet from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage. Douglas Reservoir In a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Douglas Reservoir varies about 44 feet from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage. Fort Loudoun NAVIGABLE LAKE To maintain the water depth required for navigation, Fort Loudoun Reservoir is kept at a minimum winter elevation of 807 feet. The typical summer operating elevation is between 812 and 813 feet. Melton Hill NAVIGABLE LAKE Melton Hill is a run-of-river reservoir, meaning that water is passed through the reservoir without being stored long term. The water level fluctuates about four feet (between elevation 791 and 795) on a daily basis. Norris Reservoir In a year with normal rainfall, the water level in Norris Reservoir varies about 29 feet from summer to winter to provide seasonal flood storage. Tellico Reservoir Tellico Dam is not a hydroelectric facility. It has no power generators and produces no electricity. Water from Tellico, however, helps drive the four generating units at Fort Loudoun Dam. Watts Bar NAVIGABLE LAKE To maintain the water depth required for navigation, the minimum winter elevation for Watts Bar Reservoir is 735 feet. The typical summer operating range is between 740 and 741 feet.
