Fort Loudon Dam and Tellico Dam are both located on US 321 at Lenoir City, Tennessee. They are located just one mile apart. HWY I-40 and I-75 provide easy access from all directions to both Fort Loudon and Tellico Dams. These dams were constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the purpose of electric power, flood control, navigation, recreation, an adequate supply of water and other related benefits. Tellico and Fort Loudon lakes depend on each other to achieve these purposes.
Fort Loudon Reservoir and Dam
Fort Loudon was the first of these two dams to be constructed, which began July 8, 1940 and was completed July, 1944. The filling of the reservoir began August 2, 1943. The initial cost of the construction was $36,209,067.11 with a total cost today of $41,000,000. The construction of the Fort Loudon Dam took 582,000 cubic yards of concrete. The entire Fort Loudon project required 19,519,000 man hours to complete with 13,746,000 of the man hours used on the construction of the dam itself.
Fort Loudon Dam is 125 feet high and 4,190 feet long and is the uppermost dam of the mainstream of the Tennessee River. Fort Loudon Dam also has a lock from Watts Bar Lake to Fort Loudon Lake that raises boats and barges an elevation of up to 80 feet. The lock itself is 360 feet by 60 feet. Fort Loudon lock carries a half million tons of cargo yearly.
Fort Loudon lake was named for the nearby Fort Loudon from the colonial days. The lake is 55 miles long and has a total of 360 miles of shoreline, with a total of 14,600 acres of surface area. The watershed (which is the area of land providing drainage to the reservoir) covers 9,555 square miles. The main tributaries for Fort Loudon lake are the Holston River, French Broad River, and Little Tennessee River. The counties surrounding the lake include Loudon, Blount and Knox County.
Fort Loudon Lake offers a variety of water activities including boating, fishing, waterskiing, jetskiing, swimming, camping, public parks, public access areas and much more. More than 2 million visitors a year come to Fort Loudon lake.
Tellico Lake Reservoir and Dam
Tellico Dam was planned as an extension to the Fort Loudon project. It diverts the flow from the Little Tennessee River to Fort Loudon Lake. Construction on the Tellico Reservoir began March 7, of 1967, and the filling of the reservoir began November 29, 1976. The construction of the dam was delayed due to the discovery of a new species of fish that at the time had not been found anywhere else in the world. The new species was called a Snail Darter and has since been found elsewhere. The construction was finally completed in 1979.
Tellico Dam is located one mile south of Fort Loudon Dam, and is 129 feet high and 3,238 feet long. The total cost of the Tellico Reservoir was $141,000,000. The dam creates a navigational waterway up the Little Tennessee River, which offers access for barges heading up the river. The canal between Tellico and Fort Loudon lakes provides barges access to Tellico without the need of a lock.
Tellico Dam has no powerhouse, and is not used for generating electricity. The water from the lake flows through a diversion canal and in through the turbines at Fort Loudon dam.
On the banks of Tellico Lake is the reconstruction of the original Fort Loudon, which was built during the French and Indian war and was named for John Campbell, the fourth earl of Loudoun, and commander in chief of British forces in North America.
The reservoir area covers 15,860 square acres with a total shoreline length of 373 miles. The watershed of Tellico Reservoir covers 2,627 square miles.
Tellico Lake offers several recreation areas, day use areas, fishing, boat ramps and camping facilities. The lake also offers excellent trout and bass fishing.
For more information please email us.
|
