List of dams and reservoirs of the Tennessee River

The Tennessee Valley Authority operates the Tennessee River system to provide a wide range of public benefits: year-round navigation, flood damage reduction, affordable electricity, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and economic growth.

The TVA established the stairway of twenty-nine dams and thirteen locks that turned the Tennessee River into a 652-mile-long river highway. ^[1] Dams and reservoirs on the main stem of the river include the following (listed from the furthest upstream to the furthest downstream):

• Fort Loudoun Dam impounds Fort Loudoun Lake
• Watts Bar Dam impounds Watts Bar Lake
• Chickamauga Dam impounds Chickamauga Lake
• Nickajack Dam impounds Nickajack Lake
• Guntersville Dam impounds Guntersville Lake
• Wheeler Dam impounds Wheeler Lake
• Wilson Dam impounds Wilson Lake
• Pickwick Landing Dam impounds Pickwick Lake
• Kentucky Dam impounds Kentucky Lake

Tributary dams and reservoirs include:

• Apalachia Dam on the Hiwassee River forms Apalachia Reservoir
• Blue Ridge Dam dams the Toccoa River, forming Blue Ridge Reservoir
• Boone Dam on the South Fork Holston River forms Boone Reservoir
• Chatuge Dam dams the Hiwassee River to form Chatuge Reservoir
• Cherokee Dam on the Holston River forms Cherokee Lake
• Douglas Dam on the French Broad River impounds Douglas Lake
• Elk River Dam on the Elk River forms Woods Reservoir
• Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River impounds Fontana Lake
• Fort Patrick Henry Dam on the South Fork Holston River impounds Fort Patrick Henry Lake
• Hiwassee Dam dams the Hiwassee River immediately above Apalachia Reservoir
• Melton Hill Dam on the Clinch River forms Melton Hill Lake
• Nolichucky Dam on the Nolichucky River impounds Davy Crockett Lake
• Normandy Dam on the Duck River impounds Normandy Reservoir
• Norris Dam on the Clinch River impounds Norris Lake
• Nottely Dam on the Nottely River forms Lake Nottely
• Ocoee Dam No. 1 on the Ocoee River impounds Parksville Reservoir
• Ocoee Dam No. 2 on the Ocoee River impounds Ocoee Lake No. 2
• Ocoee Dam No. 3 on the Ocoee River impounds Ocoee Lake No. 3
• South Holston Dam dams the South Fork Holston River, forming South Holston Lake
• Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River forms Tellico Lake
• Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River impounds Tims Ford Lake
• Watauga Dam on the Watauga River impounds Watauga Lake
• Wilbur Dam on the Watauga River impounds Wilbur Reservoir

References

1. "Managing the Tennessee River for Multiple Benefits". tva.com. Retrieved July 16, 2025.

External links

• TVA Recreation Interactive Map