1948 63mwNet Watauga Dam on Watauga River near Elizabethton, TN

Dam: (Satellite)

Power House: (Satellite)

TVA
"At more than 1,900 feet above sea level, Watauga holds the distinction of being the highest reservoir in the Tennessee River system."
"Watauga Dam is 318 feet [97m] high and extends 900 feet [274m] across the Watauga River."

Elizabethton/Carter County Priority News & Alerts posted three photos with the comment:

We were very lucky because that water comes out and it’s not at a controlled rate down stream. 

Completed in 1948, Watauga Dam in Elizabethton, TN, features a Morning Glory spillway. With the crest at 1,975' elevation,  the Morning Glory has NEVER been used.

Because of heavy rainfall from the storm [Hurricane Helene] water levels rose to just 4 feet below the opening on Saturday! 

📸TVA

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Oct 1, 2024: The reservoir reached a record level of 1,979.29', which broke the previous record by about 3'. [wjhl] This record was caused by Hurrican Helene.

It is important that the spillway has enough capacity to handle a flood because the dam is an earthen dam. I wonder where the outlet of the spillway is located.

Satellite

This photo shows more of the dam.

TennesseeRiverValleyGeoTourism