Cherokee Lake Water Levels

Current water level conditions and historical trends for Cherokee Lake, a scenic TVA reservoir located in East Tennessee known for excellent fishing and recreation.

Current Conditions

Cherokee Lake Current Level

1062.57 ft
Mean Sea Level (MSL)
Full Pool Level: 1069.00 ft MSL
Status:
6.43 ft below full pool
Last Reading:
Jul 10, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT
Below Full Pool

Water Temperature

81.4°F
27.4°C
Warm
Surface layer (0-10ft) estimated from air temperature, wind, precipitation, and solar radiation for swimming conditions

Historical Water Levels

Cherokee Lake Levels

Water levels shown in feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Dashed line indicates full pool level (1069.00 ft MSL)

Click year labels in the legend to show/hide specific years

Drag the slider below the chart to zoom in on specific time periods

Recent Observations

Cherokee Lake Recent Observations (48 Hours)

Elevation

Outflow

Elevation shown in feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL)

Outflow (discharge) shown in cubic feet per second (cfs)

Data updates hourly from TVA monitoring stations

About Cherokee Lake

Lake Details

  • Full Pool Level: 1069.00 ft MSL
  • Surface Area: 28,780 acres at full pool
  • Shoreline: 463 miles
  • Maximum Depth: 175 feet

Recreation

  • • Boating and water sports
  • • Fishing (bass, crappie, catfish)
  • • Swimming and beaches
  • • Camping and picnicking

Note: Water levels are managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for flood control, power generation, and recreation. Levels may fluctuate based on seasonal conditions, rainfall, and operational requirements.