Of course, you could download the TVA Lake app and see a lot of what you are looking for. It also had a ferry crossing that remained active until the 1960s. Douglas Lake is a hotspot for Crappie and Bass fishing. Douglas Dam is 201 feet high and stretches 1,705 feet across the French Broad River. Operating guides were designed and developed for every reservoir and are used in making critical decisions regarding the storing and/or releasing of water from dams throughout the entire Tennessee reservoir system. 2013-2015 Localwaters/Mark Martin. This lake is located only a few miles from the Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area, and also the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . The citizens of Dandridge made a direct appeal to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, pointing out that this was the only place in the United States named for Martha Washington. When Douglas Lake was created, TVA acquired all of the lands that now make up Douglas Lake. When Norris Dam was created in the 1930s, Big Barren was permanently flooded by the waters of Norris Lake. As mentioned in the previous section, the need for electric power skyrocketed when the United States joined World War II. TVA maximizes water conditions in the summer, when the risk of flooding is lower, to support recreational boating. Lake Rentals. [8], Douglas Lake is a recreational destination for up to two million visitors per year. [2] Supplies for the construction of the dam were hauled to the site by the Smoky Mountain Railroad, which had constructed a spur line to the site from nearby Sevierville. Press Esc to cancel. All Rights Reserved , Our business is driven by custom requests, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). He successfully delayed the project for two months but eventually his objections were squashed for the sake of the nations success in World War II. Latest Operating Information WARNING! Fishing spots and depth contours layers are available in most Lake maps. The Office of Production Management predicted that wartime industrial production would peak in 1943, and that the generating capacity of existing and planned TVA projects would be short by 230,000 kilowatts of electric power. Detailed Forecast. Several small communities were flooded when Watts Bar Lake was created in the early 1940s. [2][4], Congress approved the project in January 1942 and President Roosevelt signed the bill into law on January 30, 1942. On May 29th at 10:00 pm, the reservoir level (lake) of Douglas Lake was at 998.34*. Support for modern operating . To prepare for the winter, TVA lowers the water level to make room for the runoff from winter storms. TVA says we've seen 200-percent of our normal rainfall over the last week valley-wide and they've recorded even more rain in some isolated areas. The non-profit organization helps teachers cover Tennessee history, American history, civics and basic social studies, and uses booklets, posters, inservices and the website www.tnhistoryforkids.org. Douglas Lake Coordinates: 355740N 833220W Douglas Lake, also called Douglas Reservoir, is a reservoir created by an impoundment of the French Broad River in Eastern Tennessee. In Grainger County, Cherokee Dam on the Holston River permanently flooded the community of May Spring in 1942. TVA Fishing Conditions for Mobile Devices. [6] The saddle dam was built of earthen fill, and reinforced on its lakeside by gravel and riprap. 21,711 members with 50,949 alerts. TVA is doing a great job controlling the lake. Soddy had a hosiery mill, a gristmill, a gas station and many houses. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the United States entering World War II, construction of this dam became a high priority in order to generate hydroelectric power for national defense purposes. The lake was created by damming up the French Broad River. Example video title will go here for this video. White Pine TN 37890 Required fields are marked *. This page was last edited on 28 October 2021, at 20:28. The gray circles indicate other stations that were not ranked in percentiles either because they have fewer than 30 years of record or because they report parameters other than streamflow. It was a controversial project, first opposed by then U.S. Sen. Kenneth McKellar because of the amount of farmland it destroyed. South Holston Lake Water Level. Alas, even engineers make mistakes. We'd like to send you lake news articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web. Three systems are used at Douglas Dam to improve oxygenation. On May 29th at 10:00 pm, the container level (lake) away Douglas Lake was among 998.34*. Use contact form for fair use, licensing requests or information. Understanding the carbon monoxide dangers of exhaust outlets and idling can save lives, and all passengers should take a few key precautions: Avoid swimming near the back deck of the boat. The Lakes - Visit Jefferson County Tennessee Use this map to link to detailed information on all of TVA's facilities. Danville was permanently flooded by Kentucky Lake, but, for reasons that remain a mystery to this day, the grain elevator was left standing. Over 16 million American men and women served in the war including 315,501 Tennesseans. But the people of Dandridge had their own reason for being concerned; under the original plans, Dandridge would be . But the people of Dandridge had their own reason for being concerned; under the original plans, Dandridge would be underwater. 4 missing after record-breaking downpours along Canada's Atlantic coast cause flooding, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Summer is high time for lake fun in Tennessee! Douglas Lake, TN Info Base Elevation: 300 Acres: 30400 GPS: (36.01, -83.38) Description Douglas Lake, also called Douglas Reservoir, is a reservoir created by an impoundment of the French Broad River in . Here's where you can get all the data you need to plan your day on the water. Share your stories and photographs, and well see if any organizations would like to archive them for their historical significance. Level Controlled by: Dam Name: Douglas/Saddle Dam No. The land previously occupied by the community of Jefferson remained high and dry. Adhering to swimming area restrictions, speed limits, and no wake regulations, and ensuring skier safety, proper passenger seating, and that the boat is not overcrowded are all the responsibilities of the boat operator. Atlantic Mapping, Inc. PO Box 7391 Marietta, GA. 30065 770-426-5768 http://www.atlanticmapping.com/. Some basic guidelines include: 1.Commercial tows and other vessels restricted in maneuverability, 3. The Soviet Union, United States, and Great Britain were nicknamed The Big Three because despite their physical distance and their differing politics, their contributions to the war were key to allies victory. Never enter an enclosed area under a swim platform where the exhaust is vented. Harrison was also the county seat of Hamilton County from 1840 until 1870. Thousands of people who migrated to West Tennessee crossed the river at Perryville, and for a while, it was a bustling town. Douglas Lake is renowned for its Large Mouth Bass and Crappie. Butlers residents saved many artifacts before the flooding such as a horse-drawn hearse, now displayed in the towns museum. Douglas Lake (Douglas Reservoir) has over 550 miles of shoreline with a surface area greater than 30,000 acres at full pool. TVA Lake Info App Before we do, I need to put the flooding of these communities in context. Tennessee's Underwater Ghost Towns - The Tennessee Magazine Downstream on the Tennessee River, about 2,000 families had to be relocated when Chickamauga Dam was built in the late 1930s. Lake Photos. [3][4], When the TVA first asked Congress for the funds to construct Douglas Dam in late 1941, U.S. Tennessee senator, Kenneth McKellar, lead the fight against the dam. "NOAA" and the NOAA emblem are registered trademarks of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today's Details Air 78F High 94F Low 64F Wind 3 MPH Gust 6 mph Bearing SSW Water 80-84 F Surface Water Temperature Weather Today, some of the land formerly occupied by Old Johnsonville sits in Johnsonville State Historic Park. The area is a geological border between the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains (which rise to the south) and the Appalachian Ridge-and-Valley range. The fishing maps app include HD lake depth contours, along with advanced features found in Fish Finder / Gps Chart Plotter systems, turning your device into a Depth Finder. The vessel with the right of way must maintain its course and speed until the other vessel is clear. Sunday, July 23, 2023 11:00:00 PM Level is 2.33 feet above full pool of 990.00. . The water stored in Douglas Lake serves an important purpose during extended dry periods and droughts in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. TVA provides up-to-date information on each reservoir it manages via dedicated web pages and provides a downloadable app for lake information. Copyright 2023, Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. The History of Douglas Lake - White Pine The vessel being passed must hold its course and speed. Douglas Lake is 43.1 miles long and covers a grand 30,400 acres. So the place where early Chattanooga residents paid their taxes, where courts were held and chancery court officials sold enslaved people is now permanently beneath the waters of Chickamauga Lake. Douglas Lake Water Level. Douglas Lake (Douglas Reservoir) has over 550 miles of shoreline with a surface area greater than 30,000 acres at full pool. Jefferson, Sevier, Hamblen, and Cocke Counties surround Douglas Lake. Localwaters Douglas Lake Maps Boat Ramps TN Nicknamed the Lakeside of the Smokies, Jefferson County is only a 30-minute drive from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Cherokee and Douglas Lakes are a great option for visitors seeking a day to cool off and escape the crowds. 2013-2023 Localwaters. Jefferson County also offers hiking, golfing, and annual events throughout the summer. Ask us. Assuming there is enough rain to refill the reservoir to full pool (990ft above sea level) by the end of spring the lake is held at about full pool through the summer months. Lake operating guides: The yearlong plan for lake levels, as well as current data. Douglas Dam was constructed as part of TVAs hydroelectric expansion project. NOAA RNC is a trademark of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mrs. Roosevelt heard their appeal, spoke to her husband, and a levee was built protecting the town of Dandridge from flooding. A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Douglas Lake was built using the same blueprints as the nearby Cherokee Dam. Still trying to figure out why you are posting this on a private survey companys website, but sure, sounds like a plan. This policy shifts the focus of TVA reservoir operations from achieving specific summer pool elevations on TVA-managed reservoirs to managing the flow of water through the river system. Jefferson, a town located where Stones River breaks into two tributaries, was the original county seat of Rutherford County. iPhone / iPad Marine Navigation App and WMTS App are now available-, New! Then, water is released from this and other dams on the upper tributaries of the Tennessee River in order to maintain an eight-foot-deep navigation channel for barges on the inland waterway of the river from Knoxville down to its mouth at the Ohio River. In Sevier County, the lake of choice is Douglas Lake, located just a few miles from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg . [2][3] Its first electric generator went on-line on March 21, 1943, and its second one went on-line on January 1, 1944. This also helps to mitigate potential flood and overtopping conditions that could result from spring rains and meltwater from surrounding mountain streams. Its waters have a maximum depth of 140 feet and fluctuate 15-20 feet during the rainy season. Water Skiing, Tubing and Wakeboarding Safety Tips. (Question). Douglas Lake was constructed in 1943 for the purpose of flood control and hydroelectric power generation. Douglas Lake Fishing Map | Nautical Charts App Beginning in spring, TVA minimizes drawdowns on its reservoirs, though some are still necessary to maintain area electricity levels. However, Morganton only had about 20 buildings left when TVA bought the land in advance of the creation of Tellico Lake in the late 1970s. Harrison had an elementary school, a church and several stores. One of these is flood control for the French Broad River and also for the Tennessee River downstream. [2] After its completion, the Douglas Dam powerhouse furnished electric power for two critical war industries, aluminum production and the Manhattan Project's uranium enrichment operations at nearby Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Your email address will not be published. [7], In addition to hydroelectric generation, there are several secondary purposes of the Douglas dam and reservoir. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Douglas Lake, located at the foothills of The Great Smoky Mountains, is a scenic location with a fascinating history. The colored dots on this map depict streamflow conditions as a percentile, which is computed from the period of record for the current day of the year. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South Holston Lake Water Level 1548 Main Street Large amounts of electricity were needed to produce aluminum and magnesium vital metals for wartime warplane-manufacturing. Click for more information. This project also required the relocation of 525 families and 32 cemeteries, and the rerouting of several miles of roads. Macbook ChartPlotter, and Windows Marine Navigation Appnow available-. At some point, some industrious persons decided to purchase the remaining lands below the 1002 contour from the various heirs. Can anyone verify? Discover Rivers. Its flood-storage capacity is 1,082,000 acre-feet. Their combined peak electric power-production capacity is 146,000 kilowatts. Im mindful of this as I type this column onto my internet-connected laptop, my air conditioner cooling the room. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned electric utility corporation, established in 1933 as part of President Roosevelts New Deal to create jobs and supply electricity to rural parts of Tennessee. Water pulsing periodic release of water through the power turbines to maintain some water flow downstream at all times. Across the river from Johnsonville was Eva, a Benton County community similar in size to Johnsonville. Much of the water levels from March until Labor Day depend on the amount of rain throughout the season. When Douglas Lake was created, TVA acquired all of the lands that now construct up Douglas Pool. With our Lake Maps App, you get all the great marine chart app features like fishing spots, along with Douglas Lake depth map. All that was left of Jefferson and there wasnt very much by that time was burned, torn down and hauled away. The dam is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which built the dam in record time in the early 1940s to meet emergency energy demands at the height of World War II. They then created a flowage easement (and area where they could inundate with water) at both the 1002 shape and the 1007 contour. Now, the lakes of East Tennessee are among the area's lesser known jewels, offering boating, fishing, skiing, swimming and more. Then TVA granted most of the land back to the original landowners. Feet MSL. The Tennessee Magazine celebrates Tennessee's remarkable people, places and food. As the temperatures and water levels rise, more and more boaters will take to local waterways. Lake Maps. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Douglas Lake Property - Tennessee Land Development Services Factories needed more electricity to meet the demand for aluminum used to manufacture military airplanes. Douglas Lake Homes for Sale | Lakefront Living Real Estate Find lake level information for Douglas Lake here and Cherokee Lake here. The Bottom is mostly silt and clay with are of rock and bluffs. Moving downstream and farther north, today you will find a huge grain elevator that still rises from the waters of Kentucky Lake. Lake Tellico Water Level. ), Double check the towline is free of the propeller or any other snags before towing, Wait for the propeller to stop before getting back on the boat. The water in Douglas Lake is green in color with water clarity being greatest near the dam. Mrs. Roosevelt ensured that a saddle dam was built to protect Dandridge from flooding. Before we leave East Tennessee, I need to mention a county seat that TVA spared. The best publicized was Rhea Springs, which once had a famous spring and hotel. The dam was named for Douglas Bluff, a cliff overlooking the dam site prior to construction.[2]. What is the deepest part of Douglas Lake? With a 30-million-dollar budget and 6,000 laborers, the dam was constructed in 382 days, record speed for a project of its magnitude. The Allied Powers fought against Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. The reservoir can fluctuate 60-feet from the summer elevation of 1000-feet above sea level to the winter elevation of 940-feet. Douglas Lake Property - Tennessee Land Development Services | Douglas Your email address will not be published. Profits from supporting the dam construction saved this railroad from bankruptcy. Point to a name on the list to see the site location on the map. Im not sure what Bakers Forge consisted of by the time Norris Dam permanently submerged it, but I do know that about 2,000 graves there had to be moved to what is now known as Bakers Forge Memorial Cemetery. That grain elevator is all that is left of Danville, which contained homes, stores, a doctors office and a saloon. There are 7 tent-only campsites and 9 RV sites. Below, we detail some of Tennessees boating regulations as well as provide some tips and resources for lake information and boating safety. I just paid to rent a pontoon boat in July for a couple of days so I'm hoping that the post was incorrect. [2] However, the citizens of Dandridge appealed to the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, noting that this town was the only place in the United States named for Martha Washington, the wife of the first president George Washington. You can find a comprehensive set of Tennessees boating regulations at the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agencys website. You see, that Tennessean reporter met so many people as he wrote about obscure corners and abandoned communities in Tennessee that he eventually got elected to Congress. We currently offer Lake Level information and alerts for 351 lakes and serve The web site needs to be improved. Intentional drawdown during winter months is a common time for these releases, exposing the lake bottom up to several hundred feet from the shoreline and resulting in suspension of power generation when the lake reaches dead pool levels. He got the best hot biscuits at Eva, the Nashville Tennessean reported. It was a controversial project, first opposed by then U.S. Sen. Kenneth McKellar because of the amount of farmland it destroyed. The Douglas Tailwater campgrounds are located on the tail end of the dam, dispersed by the banks of the French Broad River. Rules of the Water: Staying Safe on Tennessee Lakes Generally, boats approaching from the right have the right of way, and powered vessels must give way to vessels with less maneuverability. Type above and press Enter to search. Please wear your life vest all the time while on the water and watch for floating logs. The most famous structure permanently flooded by Cherokee Lake was the tavern at Bean Station an inn built in 1814 along the first road connecting Knoxville to Washington, D.C. Just about every important person from early Tennessee history spent the night at Bean Station at one time or another. Interstate 40 (Exit 407) passes a few miles to the north. [3], The Douglas Dam powerhouse is a hydroelectric power producer with four large water turbines that drive four large electric generators. Jefferson Countys two lakesCherokee Lake and Douglas Lakeoffer some of the most pristine shorelines and best boating in the country. 3. Boat Shows. Will the situation get worse? This easy-to-use resource for operating on and around reservoirs and dams in the TVA region includes: Lake elevations: Water level information for all of TVA's reservoirs. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A similar thing happened in the Benton County town of Big Sandy. Passing vessels should signal their intentions. The reservoir includes parts of Sevier, Jefferson, Hamblen, and Cocke counties. Previously I pointed out that TVA originally intended to flood the Jefferson County seat of Dandridge but built a levee instead. 865-674-2556. Click for more information.--. Operator Responsibilities: It is unsafe and unlawful to operate any vessel while under the influence. TVA provides up-to-date information on each reservoir it manages via dedicated web pages and provides a downloadable app for lake information. It can still go up 3.66 hands before it range the 1002 contour, which is the 100-year flood. All Rights Reserved except where noted and attributed. The reservoir itself is 43.1 miles long, with a maximum depth of 140 feet, and collects water from a 4,541 square mile watershed. Access TWRA and Corps Of Engineers Douglas Lake Maps charts below Then turn right onto TN-338 - this will take you to Douglas Dam, the 2 campgrounds (signs to the Headwater Campground are after you cross the dam), the day use areas and the Trotter Bluff Trail. Redirect. Significant amounts of freshwater fish are caught in Douglas Lake as part of the food supply for human beings. Douglas Dam - Wikipedia Douglas Operating Guide - TVA.com The site was poorly chosen in fact, it was flooded when the U.S. Navy successfully attacked it in February 1862. WATER LEVEL. Below the 1002 contour. Visit White Pine and Douglas Lake for a walk through history with a beautiful view. American civilians, many of which were women who did not work before the war, flocked to factories and even moved to cities where wartime production jobs were available. Douglas Dam Headwater and Tailwater Campgrounds Your email address will not be published. How Deep Is Douglas Lake In Tennessee? (Solution) After youve deboarded at the end of a great day of boating, take in some. Whether youre a first-time boater or a long-time lake lover, it pays to know the rules of the road while on the lake and follow a few basic safety tips to keep your Tennessee lake excursion safe and fun. However, the creation of dams up and down the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers greatly reduced flooding and provided a lot of inexpensive electricity. It is not uncommon for the lake to rise as much as 15- to 20-feet in a day or two if heavy rains occur in the nearby Appalachians. Douglas is a flood storage reservoir. . Near Big Barren was the Campbell County community of Bakers Forge. Level Controlled by: Dam Name: Cherokee/Saddle Dam No. Douglas (TN) 992.40 990.00 2.40 7/21/2023 10:00 AM Fort Loudoun (TN) 813.45 813.00 0.45 7/21/2023 10:00 AM . The United States military was not the powerhouse that it is today prior the World War II. When Perry County was formed in 1819, Perryville was its county seat. These landowners began to divide their lands. Generation releases: When TVA will be creating hydropower. The Johnson County town of Butler had to be moved in the 1940s because of the creation of Watauga Lake. After the new reservoir filled up, the water didnt extend quite as far as originally projected. [8], One of the problems of hydroelectric dams is the periodic reduction of dissolved oxygen in the tailwaters downstream of the dam. Douglas Lake Water Level The dam does not have any navigational locks. Douglas Reservoir in Tennessee | Bank and Boat Fishing Opportunities [citation needed] Furthermore, the water that is released is then available for all the drinking-water supplies of cities and towns downstream, and in addition, it is available for watering farms during the droughts. by Department of Tourism Team Member | Jun 24, 2021 | Boating, Lakeside Events, Things To Do, Water Safety. The massive lake that the dam forms forced 525 families from their homes and put 32 cemeteries under water. The reservoir itself is 43.1 miles long, with a maximum depth of. Lake navigation features include advanced instrumentation to gather wind speed direction, water temperature, water depth, and accurate GPS with AIS receivers(using NMEA over TCP/UDP). LakeLevels.info is a national information and alert service for lake water levels in the United States. Set against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountain foothills, Douglas Reservoir is a popular recreation destination, known for picnicking, camping, boating, and fishing. Big Barren, a small town along the Clinch River in Claiborne County, became famous in 1916 because of a flood that killed 25 people there. Clean water, sizeable, and lots of private coves if you like that, or wide open space for wake, waverunners, tubes, and everything else. 992.33. Feet MSL. Douglas Lakes game fish feed on an abundant supply of gizzard shad, bluegill, and various types of minnows. The Douglas Lake Navigation App provides advanced features of a Marine Chartplotter including adjusting water level offset and custom depth shading. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agencys website, spectacular lakeside dining or casual family fare, Appalachian Quilt Squares in the Lakeside of the Smokies, Celebrate Independence Day (& Summer) in Jefferson County. Douglas Lake Water Levels. The campsite also features 2 bathhouses equipped with . Douglas Lake's water temperature & fishing - LakeMonster.com Douglas Lake level in summer 9 years ago Save I had read on the Douglas Lake forum that (mind you this was from a post in 2005) that they drained Douglas Lake partially in the summer for the hydroelectric. Work began to dam the French Broad River in East Tennessee in February of 1942 and almost a year to . *go here to get the app Some people will swim in the reservoirs open waters or coves. Pet Friendly Notes Large amounts of water could be discharged at any time. All Rights Reserved Powered by, How Much Are Tennessee Titans Season Tickets? LakeLevels.info is a national information and alert service for lake water levels in the United States. Harnessing the power of the French Broad River, it produced electricity to support aluminum production as well as the Manhattan Projects nuclear weapons research in Oak Ridge. TVA River Operations experts explain the odds. In May 2004, the TVA Board of Directors approved a new policy for operating the Tennessee River and reservoir system. Skip Navigation Share on Facebook All rights reserved. Douglas Lake Marina is one of several local marinas that offers boat rentals, watersport equipment rentals, and waterfront cabins. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. If you have land or are purchasing land on Douglas Lake, you will be well served to ensure that you have legal access to the adjoining lands below the 1002 contour. Change Since Yesterday: 0.00 Feet Level Controlled by: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Dam Name: South Holston (TVA) Daily Levels By Month South Holston Lake Forums: South Holston Lake Cameras: WATER RESOURCE LINKS U.S. Drought . When it was relocated, some of the towns residents saved many artifacts before they were discarded such as a horse-drawn hearse, the interior of the post office and equipment from the old lumber mill. Find lake level information for Douglas Lake here and Cherokee Lake here. On top of the foresting and displacement of families, the dam also threatened a key part of the areas economycanning. Today, the saddle dam is affectionately called the dike that saved Dandridge and the Jefferson County Courthouse has a mark representing where the water level would be without the dike.