Chickamauga Lake
Chickamauga Lake is a reservoir in the United States 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 to Chickamauga Dam at mile 471.0 making the lake 58.9 miles long. It borders Rhea County, Meigs County, and Hamilton County with 810 miles 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. It was named after the Chickamauga Cherokee who used to live in the area.
The Hiwassee River empties into Chickamauga lake at Hiwassee Island, just north of the Highway 60 bridge at mile 500.
Chickamauga Lake is immediately downstream from Watts Bar Lake and immediately upstream from Nickajack Lake.
Full pool for Chickamauga lake is above sea level; the current lake level can be checked . The normal operating zone is between and through the end of March, rising steadily to a summer range of 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 by the end of November. Actual lake levels vary due to weather conditions and power needs.
