Watauga Lake Water Elevations

June, 2008

Photos, illustrations & article by Pat Johns ©2008
All Rights Reserved
See links to article references at the end of the article.

June 6 2008 Drought update from TVA.com:

"For the week ending June 6, there was an average of 0.53 inch of rainfall recorded in the Tennessee Valley. Runoff was 0.26 of an inch. (Note: All rainfall and runoff data included here is as of midnight June 5.) Drought conditions continue to persist across northern Alabama, Georgia, eastern Tennessee and North Carolina. May was very dry in the eastern portion of the Valley, while the western portion of the Valley had above normal rainfall. A sustained period of above normal rainfall is needed to break the drought in the eastern portion of the Valley. Typically, this time of year, only the tropics can provide that type of rainfall. Below is updated information as of June 6 on the condition of the reservoir system.

* For the calendar year-to-date (Jan. 1-June 5), the Valley has received a total of 19.24 inches of rainfall and 10.10 inches of runoff. Rainfall for the calendar year-to-date is 81 percent of normal. Hydro production for the calendar year-to-date is 57 percent of normal.
* Blue Ridge, Cherokee, Douglas, Fontana, Norris, Chatuge, Nottely and Hiwassee reservoirs are below their flood-guide levels and are expected to remain below flood-guide levels. South Holston and Watauga are well below their flood-guide levels (10.7 feet and 7.5 feet, respectively).

TVA will continue to schedule flows through the system to fill tributary projects while meeting downstream flow requirements, maintaining water quality, protecting aquatic habitat and providing for commercial navigation."

~ TVA.com