Right now
Lake Barkley water level
Lake Barkley is at 355.15 ft, falling 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours, 0.11 ft above TVA’s guide level for the date. Below Barkley Dam, generation is scheduled all day on Oct 1.
Lake Barkley level
355.15 ft
Reading at 6 PM CDT, Sep 30
Last 24 hours
▼ 0.05 ft
Falling since 6 PM CDT Sep 29
Against TVA’s target
0.11 ft above
TVA guide level for Sep 30: 355.04 ft
Release from Barkley Dam
19,000 cfs
Hourly average, 6 PM CDT, Sep 30
Tailwater level
306.35 ft
Below Barkley Dam, 6 PM CDT, Sep 30
Same date last year
355.20 ft
Midnight level, Sep 30
Readings are hourly, in feet above sea level, from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The page checks TVA again each time it opens, and the reading time shows how recent the numbers are.
Below the dam
Barkley Dam generation schedule
TVA posts the hours Barkley Dam is scheduled to run its generators, for today and the start of tomorrow. Generating hours are when water is being released through the turbines and the current below the dam is moving.
Oct 1
- Midnight to 2 PM CDT1 generator
- 2 PM to 8 PM CDT2 or more generators
- 8 PM to Midnight CDT1 generator
1 generator2 or moreNo generationNot posted
Next few days
Lake Barkley level forecast
TVA’s forecast of the Lake Barkley level at midnight, with the average flow it expects into and out of the lake each day.
| Day | Midnight level | Average inflow | Average outflow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | 355.21 ft | 12,043 cfs | 11,950 cfs |
| Oct 2 | 355.18 ft | 13,195 cfs | 11,825 cfs |
| Oct 3 | 355.20 ft | 11,585 cfs | 11,422 cfs |
The year so far
Lake Barkley level this year against TVA’s guide
Each line is the Lake Barkley level at midnight. The 2026 line runs up to the latest day TVA has published.
20262025TVA guide levelOperating zone
TVA’s guide level for Lake Barkley peaks at 359.00 ft, first reached on May 1, and is lowest at 354.00 ft, first reached on Jan 1.
Weather
Lake Barkley weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind SSE 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
90°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind S 5 to 10 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
70°F
Partly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers
Wind S 5 mph
31% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind WSW 5 mph
79% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
61°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind NNE 0 to 5 mph
57% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
73°F
Rain Showers Likely
Wind NE 5 mph
61% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 6:51 PM, Wed, Sep 30.
Sun and moon, Thu, Oct 8
Tournaments
Lake Barkley tournament schedule
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo
Mar 20, 2027 · Major League Fishing
Launch: Paris Landing State Park, Buchanan
Phoenix Bass Fishing League Team/Solo
May 15, 2027 · Major League Fishing
Launch: Paris Landing State Park, Buchanan
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for a boat on Lake Barkley
The electronics, motors, boats and batteries that cost real money, compared side by side with the Tennessee water each one suits. Affiliate links.
Go fishing
Where to fish Lake Barkley
Other lakes
More Cumberland River lakes levels
Common questions
Lake Barkley level questions
What level does TVA aim to keep Lake Barkley at?
TVA’s guide level for Lake Barkley peaks at 359.00 ft, first reached on May 1, and is lowest at 354.00 ft, first reached on Jan 1.
When does Barkley Dam generate?
The Corps of Engineers runs Barkley Dam, and TVA publishes its generation schedule for the current day. This page shows it hour by hour.
What does the Lake Barkley level mean?
It is the height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, measured at Barkley Dam. A change of a foot or two moves the shoreline, the depth at the end of a ramp and where fish hold in the coves.
Where does the Lake Barkley data come from?
From the Tennessee Valley Authority’s published lake data: hourly readings for the last 48 hours, the generation schedule, a three-day forecast and the operating guide for the year.
Where can I launch a boat on Lake Barkley?
TWRA lists 29 public access points on Lake Barkley, 28 of them with a boat ramp. The Lake Barkley page has directions to each.
Lake levels, releases, generation schedules and forecasts come from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Barkley Dam is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; TVA publishes its readings and schedule alongside its own dams. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with TVA. TVA’s lake data does not include water temperature, so none is shown.
Keep going
More Lake Barkley water, and who fishes it
Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.