Fort Loudoun and Tellico Dams

Fort Loudoun and Tellico Dams are TVA Dams near Lenoir City, Tennessee. Fort Loudoun is the most upstream dam on the Tennesee River, and has the last (first?) navigation lock, making Fort Loudoun Lake the end (or beginning) of the line for commercial barge traffic. Tellico is the last dam on the Little Tennessee River, located right at the Tennessee River, and actually diverts the Little Tennessee into Fort Loudoun Lake. As you cross Fort Loudoun Dam headed east, you cross the channel that connects the two lakes.

This is a view of the downstream side of the dam. The powerhouse is just visible behind the switchyard, and the lock is visible on the other side of the river. The Dam is 4,190 feet long and 125 feet high.

Here is Jan overlooking the office and powerhouse. The requisite crane is visible (the large white structure) as are the wires going to the switchyard behind Jan.

The Fort Loudoun Switchyard. This plant is capable of 123 Megawatts.

A small craft exiting the Fort Loudoun lock. The lock is the original, small 60 x 360 feet, but the lift is a respectable 72 feet between the normal pool levels.

The "mule" at the Fort Loudoun lock, and the Army Corps of Engineers sign identifying the lock: the Corps operates the locks at all TVA dams. This is one of two locks in TVA's system that is not available for use 24 hours a day, being open from 6 AM to 10 PM. The other is at Melton Hill Dam on the Clinch River, which is available "by appointment". Fort Loudoun is the most upstream lock on the Tennessee River, so Fort Loudoun Lake is the terminus of barge traffic on the river. The channel connecting Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes can accomodate barge traffic however, so you may occasionally see a barge on Tellico Lake.

This is Tellico Dam. It is a long (3,238 feet, and 129 feet high) earthen and rock dam, with a concrete gated spillway at one end.

This is a closeup of the gated spillway. A little water is allowed to flow, probably to keep the channel from here to the Tennessee River from getting stagnant. There is no powerhouse, as most of the water is diverted to Fort Loudoun Lake, and therefore through the Fort Loudoun Powerhouse.

As we drove by the dam, we came upon this structure. We decided it was an emergency spillway.