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. 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

  • TVA Recreation Interactive Map