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

1059.11 ft
Mean Sea Level (MSL)
Full Pool Level: 1069.00 ft MSL
Status:
9.89 ft below full pool
Last Updated:
just now
May 26, 2026, 1:00 AM EDT
Below Full Pool

Water Temperature

72.0°F
22.2°C
Moderate
Station:
N F HOLSTON RIVER NEAR GATE CITY, VA
USGS #03490000
Last Updated:
26 minutes ago
May 25, 2026, 9:15 PM EDT
Temperature measured at nearby USGS monitoring station

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.