Chickamauga Lake

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Chickamauga Lake
Chickamauga Lock and Dam
Location	Tennessee
Coordinates	35°22′28.7″N, 85°2′0.6″WCoordinates: 35°22′28.7″N, 85°2′0.6″W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Tennessee River, Hiwassee River
Primary outflows	Tennessee River
Catchment area	20,790 square miles (53,846 km²)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	36,240 acres (147 km²)

Chickamauga Lake is a reservoir along the Tennessee River created when the Chickamauga Dam, as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority, was completed in 1940. The lake stretches from Watts Bar Dam at mile 529.9 (853 km) to Chickamauga Dam at mile 471.0 (758 km) making the lake 58.9 miles (94.8 km) long. It borders Rhea County, Meigs County, and Hamilton County with 810 miles (1,303 km) of shoreline and two bridges crossing it at State Highway 60 and Highway 30. The lake is commonly used for recreational and outdoor activities, especially at the southern end, due to the high population density surrounding it.

The Hiwassee River runs into Chickamauga lake just north of Hiwassee Island, and the Highway 60 bridge at mile 500 (804.5 km).

Preceding Chickamauga Lake on the Tennessee River is Watts Bar Lake, and following is Nickajack Lake.

It was named after the Chickamauga (tribe) of Cherokees who used to live in the area.

Full pool for Chickamauga lake is 682 feet above sea level; the current lake level can be checked here. The normal operating envelope is a level of approximately 676 ft through the end of March, rising steadily to full pool level of 682 feet by the middle of May. Then, full pool is maintained through the end of August, at which time the level drops steadily back down to 676 ft by the end of November. Actual lake levels will, of course, vary due to weather conditions and power needs.