Lake Information
Large lakes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, South East Tennessee
and Western North Carolina are primarily governed by the Tennessee Valley
Authority for flood control and hydro electric power. I have created this page
to educate clients on large mountain lakes in the Tri State area of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. For more detailed information, please go to the corresponding
site for that lake.
Lake Blue Ridge is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest
of north Georgia. The lake is 3,290 acres in size and has about 100 miles of
shoreline. Approximately 80% of the lake is United States Forestry Service and
it has been deemed the cleanest lake in the state of Georgia. It is in Fannin
County, Georgia. There's a scenic overlook above the dam and a shaded picnic
area near the powerhouse. The canoe and kayak launch site below the dam gives
non motorized boaters access to the Toccoa River. The river is noted among
fishermen for its sunfish, trout, and bass. When water is released from the Blue
Ridge Dam to generate electricity, the river becomes a class I-II float through
the Georgia hills. Besides providing power and recreational opportunities, Blue
Ridge also helps control flooding. Please visit the Tennessee Valley Authority
website and type in your lake name for detailed information on release
schedules, fishing and much more. for Lake Blue Ridge: http://www.tva.com/sites/blueridge.htm
Homes in and around the lake are mostly constructed of log but many of the
homes are second home, vacation homes for Atlantians and Floridians. Prices vary
greatly from style or home and location.
Lake Nottley lies in north Georgia on the southeastern edge of
the Tennessee River watershed nestled in the mountains and valleys of the
Chattahoochee National Forest. The reservoir features a beach and camping area
and is a great place for viewing wildlife. Nottley Reservoir serves a number of
purposes other than recreation, including flood control and power generation. It
is about 4,180 acres and it is 20 miles in length. It is also in the
Chattahoochee National Forest and is in Union County, Georgia. Striper, Walleye,
Trout and Bass make thier home here which makes for fun fishing. Please visit http://www.tva.com/sites/nottely.htm
Lake Chatuge has 132 miles of shoreline and is about 7000 acres
in size. It spans about 13 miles long and is in both Georgia and North Carolina.
Sport fishing is popular at Chatuge, both in the reservoir and in the Hiawassee
River below the dam. Concrete weirs have been installed below the dam to provide
a steady flow of water and to increase oxygen levels for fish and other aquatic
animals. Wade fishing for trout is popular here since fish are attracted to the
weirs, where food is abundant. Chatuge is operated for many purposes, including
flood control, power generation, and augmentation of water flows for navigation
downstream.Please visit http://www.tva.gov/sites/chatuge.htm
Campbell Cove Lake in Turtletown Tennessee is the only lake in
South East Tennessee that is not governed or dammed by TVA. This lake is 90
acres in size and has restrictions on gasoline powered boats. Electris boats
only on this crystal clear lake, as it is drinking water for the area. The lake
has a dirt dam for flood control with a spillway that feeds to a creek on the
other side of the dam if needed. The lake is surrounded by Cherokee National
Forest and has bass, trout and many other species of fish. The lake has a public
boat ramp and is not on any map that I have ever seen. It is maintained by
Copper Basin Utility. There are homes on the lake but not many.
Please go to www.campbellcovelake.org for details.
I myself am a property owner on this lake. Please do not hesitate to
contact me with any questions and availabilty on this virtually unknown,
gorgeous lake.
Lake Chickamauga is a TVA controlled lake part of the Tennessee
River. Chickamauga Reservoir, with 810 miles of shoreline, has 35,400 square
acres of surface area. The counties surrounding Chickamauga Lake include Rhea
County, Hamilton County, Meigs County, Bradley County, and McMinn County.
Millions of visitors yearly are attracted to Chickamauga Lake. The area offers
two state parks, two county parks, four municipal parks, and two wildlife
centers. Boating, swimming, fishing, camping, water skiing, jet skiing, and
other water related activities are offered on Chickamauga Lake. Lake
Chickamauga Reservoir is named for a tribe of Native Americans that broke away
from the Cherokee Nation in the 1700s. They lived in villages along North
Chickamauga Creek, which joins the river just below Chickamauga Dam. The
reservoir attracts millions of outdoor enthusiasts each year for fishing,
boating, and swimming. There are boat ramps on the lake and canoe access on
North Chickamauga Creek. The Big Ridge Small Wild Area is a 200-acre upland
hardwood forest situated on a high ridge above the north shore of the reservoir
at the dam. An easy 1.3-mile loop trail leads through the forest. Spring
wildflowers include bloodroot, toothwort, larkspur, trillium, and mayapple.
Before TVA established Chickamauga and other reservoirs above Chattanooga, the
city had one of the most serious flood problems in the nation. Now the river
which threatened the city contributes to its economy as a major artery for barge
traffic.http://www.tva.com/sites/chickamauga.htm
Watts Bar Lake is on the Tennessee River and is surrounded by
Loudon, Roane, Rhea, and Meigs Counties in Tennessee. Watts Bar Lake covers
39,000 acres at full pool, and has 771 miles of shoreline. The lake extends 72.4
miles from the Watts Bar Dam up to Ft. Loudon dam, with the maximum depth being
approximately 70 feet near the dam. The principal tributaries of Watts Bar are
the Clinch River and the Tennessee River. Watts Bar Lake is one of south's
largest lakes. The watershed (the land the water drains from) for the lake is
17,310 square miles. It is TVA controlled. Water level fluctuates about 3-4 feet at maximum http://www.tva.com/sites/wattsbarres.htm
Lake Watauga holds the distinction of being the highest
reservoir (more than 1,900 feet above sea level) in the Tennessee River system.
The reservoir is operated for many uses, including flood control, power
generation, water quality, and aquatic ecology. Construction of the dam began in
early 1942 but was curtailed later that year in favor of other wartime building
efforts. Work resumed in 1946, and the dam was completed in 1948. Surrounded by
the Cherokee National Forest and flanked by the Appalachian Mountains, Watauga
Reservoir is arguably the most scenic in the Tennessee River watershed. It
offers access to the Appalachian Trail. Below Watauga Dam is a wildlife
observation area where visitors have a chance to view unique species of
waterfowl. http://www.tva.com/sites/watauga.htm
For additional lakes and reservoir information please click here to contact Sidra Mccain-Dinco
