How do I lock through Fort Loudoun Dam?

Short answer: Fort Loudoun Lock is operated by TVA at the upstream end of Watts Bar Lake. Hail the lockmaster on VHF channel 13 or call (865) 986-2762 ahead of time. Allow 30 to 60 minutes; expect longer if a barge is in the queue.

Fort Loudoun Lock sits at the upstream end of Watts Bar Lake, lifting boats from Watts Bar's pool up to Fort Loudoun Lake — about a 70-foot rise. Like Watts Bar Lock, it's free for recreational use and operates around the clock with commercial-traffic priority.

Procedure is the same as Watts Bar: hail on VHF channel 13 as you approach, request lockage, and follow the lockmaster's instructions. Tie up to the floating bollards or the lock wall with long lines and good fenders. Bring a spotter on deck. Plan for a longer day than the lockage itself, since you may sit and wait if a tow is being processed.

If you've never locked here before, call the Fort Loudoun lockmaster at (865) 986-2762 before you head up. The lockmasters here are the same kind of people as at Watts Bar: helpful, used to fielding questions from first-timers, and much happier answering one in advance than dealing with a confused boater inside the chamber. Ask anything you're not sure about.

Allow 30 minutes minimum for a recreational cycle. Add hours if commercial traffic is staged. Plan the run with current and TVA generation in mind, since both Watts Bar Dam and Fort Loudoun Dam can swing river flow within minutes of a generation start.

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