Boone Lake

Also known as: Boone Reservoir

Locations

USA > South > Tennessee

Boone Lake Water Levels

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Boone Lake: Description

Boone Reservoir in the hills of northeast Tennessee completed filling on March 16, 1953. The TVA lake includes three hydroelectric generators with a capacity of 81,000 kilowatts. Visitors and residents enjoy spectacular views of the water and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

Named for frontiersman and explorer Daniel Boone, Boone Lake covers parts of Sullivan County and Washington County. Nearby towns include Johnson City, Bluff City, Elizabethton, and Bristol.

Boone Lake's normal full pond is 1,382 ft. above sea level. During winter it drops to about 1,360 ft. According to the TVA, Boone generally maintains stable water levels during the summer season.

There are 131 miles of shoreline, including 8 miles of island shoreline. 20.7 miles of the shoreline are owned by the TVA, and .5 miles are part of the public Winged Deer Park, owned by Johnson City. The other 110 miles are privately owned. The shoreline is heavily developed and densely populated.

Popular recreational uses include boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, wildlife viewing, hiking, hunting, and camping. There is no boat horsepower limit.

Sport fishing (listed in TVA order by fishing quality) includes white crappie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, black bass, crappie. Catfish and carp are also prevalent. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) stocks Boone Lake with blue catfish, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, and crappie.

There are seven public boat ramps and several private marinas located around the reservoir.

The TVA's ecological health rating for Boone Lake in 2005 was "poor" but swimming is considered safe, as is fish consumption within published limits.