Watauga holds the distinction of being the highest reservoir
(more than 1,900 feet above sea level) in the Tennessee River
system. 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. Construction started on February 16,1942, then the
construction was deferred by order of WPB on December 21, 1942
and then construction resumed on July 22, 1946. The gates were
closed on December 31, 1948.
The construction of the Watauga Lake Project incurred
10,274,559 man hours of labor. During the construction 1 man
lost his life, and 48 suffered injuries. The project relocated
761 families and caused the removal of 1,281 gravesites. Some
of the materials used to build the dam are 80400 cubic yards of
concrete, and 65,400 cubic yards of grouting for the
foundation.
Watauga Lake flood control storage at normal maximum pool the
reservoir holds 6,430 acre feet of water. Watauga Lake has 2
enclosed water-cooled generators manufactured by Westinghouse
Electric Corporation.
Watauga Lake has 104 miles of shoreline, and 2 miles of island
shoreline giving a total of 106 miles of shoreline. The maximum
width of the lake is 313 acres with a surface area of 34,200
acres. Watauga Dam is 318 feet high, and 900 feet long and is
located on the Watauga River mile marker 36.7 in Carter County.
The reservoir is 16.3 miles long.
The reservoir is operated for many uses, including flood
control, power generation, water quality, and aquatic ecology.
electricity, and helps maintain navigation depth on the ferment
dams, generating electricity at each one.
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.
The counties effected are Carter and Johnson in the state of
Tennessee.
