Posted May 17, 2003

On Friday, May 10, 2003, TVA released an advisory for lake-related businesses and tourists in our area that forecasted Kentucky Lake (and Lake Barkley) to reach 366.0', a full seven feet above normal summer pool (359.0'). 

It got a little higher than that. 

Kentucky Lake peaked Saturday morning, May 17th, 2003 at 5:00 a.m. at the elevation of 367.3', or 8.3 feet above summer pool.  Lake Barkley reached 367.0' at the same time.   Though we have no idea the last time the lakes reached this level, we do know it has been well over a decade.

Here's some interesting information for you if you are not familiar with our lakes.  Since Kentucky Lake is a man-made lake which was created by flooding the Tennessee River via Kentucky Dam in 1944, the lake doesn't "flood" because, technically, it is already flooded.  The lake is basically a flooded Tennessee River (read more about this in History). 

Kentucky Lake can only reach a level of 375'.  At that point, water would be at the top of the dam and any additional elevation would cause water to spill over the top of it.  Kentucky Dam wasn't made for that, so in theory, the lake cannot get any higher than 375'.  It would take the mother of all rains to cause the lake to get that high and go over the top of the dam, or someone falling asleep for a few days at the control center of the dam (just some humor for you).

Knowing that Kentucky Lake can only reach certain levels, TVA set up restrictions way back which do not allow permanent structures (homes, etc.) to be built below the elevation of 381'.  So, when the lakes get high, structure such as businesses or homes generally aren't affected.

What does happen, however, is the submersion of infrastructure.  Many boat launching ramps, lake front camping sites, and parking areas were underwater.  Many floating docks and marinas were inaccessible because their entrances were covered in water.  When the lake gets this high, it does cause problems.

Click on the photos below for their location and a caption.  These photos were taken over a course of two days when the lake elevation was between 366.8' and 367.0'.