Is Watts Bar Lake high, low, or at summer pool?
As of , Watts Bar Lake is at 738.94 ft above mean sea level (1.56 ft below summer-pool target). Summer pool is 740–741 ft; winter minimum is roughly 735 ft.
Watts Bar Reservoir runs on a published TVA operating curve. The full live dashboard plus the observed and predicted curves for the next 3 days are at watts.bar. The detailed elevation page with the source feed and 3-day forecast is here.
Frequently asked
Is the lake high or low right now?
Compare the live reading at the top of this page to summer pool (740–741 ft) and winter minimum (735 ft). Anything within half a foot of summer pool counts as "at pool"; below 738 ft is meaningfully drawn down.
Why does the lake level matter?
Three reasons most people care: ramp depth (low water can put smaller ramps out of service), shoreline access at marinas and parks, and dock clearance for boats with deep keels. Fishermen track it because submerged structure (stumps, brush, points) shows or hides at different elevations and the bite changes accordingly.
What is the highest the lake gets?
Summer pool sits at 740–741 ft. The flood ceiling on the spillway gates is 745 ft. The reservoir rarely approaches the flood ceiling outside major storm events; TVA pre-releases storage when heavy rain is forecast.
What's the lowest the lake gets?
Roughly 735 ft in late January and February when winter drawdown completes. Brief dips a foot below that have happened during dry winters. The fill curve back to summer pool runs March through May.
Full elevation page with forecast curve → · live dashboard at watts.bar