TVA: Up-to-Date Information on the Tennessee River System

Up-to-Date Information on the
Tennessee River System

TVA operates the dams, locks, and reservoirs of the Tennessee River and its tributaries as one integrated system in order to provide multiple benefits for the region. These benefits include year-round navigation, flood damage reduction, affordable electricity, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and economic growth.

TVA’s policy for operating the Tennessee River system affects how much reservoir levels rise and fall, when those changes occur, and the amount of water flowing through the system at different times of the year, depending on rainfall.

The water release schedule is subject to change without notice.
Times are given in local time.
Please use caution near dams.
Hazardous conditions may develop without warning.

Reservoir information

Use the drop-down menus in the green box at right to get information on releases (daily average rates of water flowing into and out of TVA-managed reservoirs) and elevations (water levels upstream and downstream of TVA dams). Flow rates and water levels are predicted for each day and the two days following.

Predicted levels are updated at least once a day, by 1 p.m. Eastern time. That information may be updated more frequently when a large amount of water is flowing into the system. Observed water levels are updated periodically throughout the day.

The menus for some reservoirs also contain information about other topics, such as the operating guide (which TVA uses to make decisions about moving water through the dam), sportfish ratings, and recreation.

The link to ‘Tennessee River elevations at selected locations’ gives information on recent and predicted water levels at main cities along the Tennessee River and key locations below Pickwick Landing Dam.

Rainfall and stream flows

This site also offers information on precipitation across the valley and on flows in valley streams that contribute a significant amount of water to the river system. See links at top left of page.

System flow requirements and the volume of water in tributary reservoirs affect the operation of those reservoirs. Get current information here.

For information about a reservoir, choose the reservoir name first, then choose the type of information you want, and click “View info.”

Tennessee River elevations at selected locations

You can also use our interactive map to read details about each facility and its role in the integrated system.

See definitions of some of the most commonly used terms related to river operations.