Closed now
Tennessee boat ramps and access areas closed now
Closures TWRA has announced that have not been followed by a reopening. A notice with an end date drops off a week after that date.
Temporary Road Closure Scheduled at Forks of the River WMA
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is temporarily closing the access road leading into the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the Will Skelton Greenway beginning at sunset on Sunday, Aug. 16. This closure is necessary to repair several potholes and reinforce the roadway, which has experienced heavy year round use.
Plumlee Ford Access Area Remains Closed in Van Buren County
McMinnville, Tenn —-The Caney Fork boating access ramp, Plumlee Ford, in Van Buren County, will continue to be closed at this time due to underlying circumstances.
Alerts
Access alerts: open, with changes
The ramp is open, but parking, lanes or water level limit how it can be used.
Gibson County Lake Implements Changes to Boat Ramp Due to Low Water Level
TRENTON, Tenn., The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is actively working to address issues at the Gibson County Lake boat ramp. Low lake levels have caused prop wash from boats loading onto trailers to create large holes at the end of the ramp. This can damage trailers and make it difficult for everyone to launch their boats. TWRA personnel are filling these holes with rock as a temporary solution so anglers can continue using the lake.
Temporary Parking Limitations at Two Access Ramps on Hiwassee River
CROSSVILLE, Tenn.—Boat ramps at the 411 Bridge and Patty Bridge on the Hiwassee River will remain open with limited parking during an improvement project taking place at each location. Construction will start on Monday, Aug.31.
Back open
Recently reopened access areas
No access areas have reopened in the last 45 days.
Dam notices
TVA dam release notices
Notes TVA posts on a dam when water is going through something other than the generators: spillway gates, sluices or valves. The river below the dam carries that flow on top of any generation.
| Dam | Notice | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Watauga Dam | Watauga will be sluicing periodically throughout the day and with varying flow until further notice. | 04/18/2026 |
| Wilbur Dam | Wilbur will be spilling 230 cfs until further notice. | 08/26/2026 |
| Tims Ford Dam | Tims Ford will be spilling approximately 250 cfs until further notice | 08/13/2026 |
| Normandy Dam | Normandy will be releasing approximately 175 cfs until further notice. | 09/19/2026 |
| Center Hill Dam | Center Hill orifice gate will be open until further notice. | 06/01/2026 |
| J. Percy Priest Dam | The fixed-cone valve will be open until further notice. | 07/22/2026 |
Corps lakes
Corps of Engineers lake notices
Nashville District announcements about the Cumberland River lakes and locks: drawdowns, closures and fee changes.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District waives day-use fees, invites volunteers for National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District celebrates National Public Lands Day with free day-use access at Corps-managed boat launch ramps and swimming beaches Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Volunteers can also support cleanup and conservation projects at J. Percy Priest, Cheatham, Cordell Hull, Dale Hollow and Old Hickory lakes throughout the Cumberland River basin. Find event details, volunteer opportunities…
Barkley Lock dewatering reinforces major navigation artery
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has drained Barkley Lock on the Cumberland River for its first dewatering and major maintenance operation since 2015. During this scheduled 52-day closure, the specialized USACE Regional Rivers Repair Fleet is executing critical repairs to the lock’s miter gates, water control valves, and concrete infrastructure. This preventative maintenance ensures the long-term…
Old Hickory Lake drawdown to assess shoreline conditions in November
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 15, 2026), The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District has scheduled a drawdown of the lake for November 2026.
US 127 across Wolf Creek Dam closes Sept. 2 for spillway work
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District will close both lanes of U.S. 127 across Wolf Creek Dam in Jamestown, Kentucky, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The temporary road closure allows American Bridge Company crews to safely move heavy crane equipment over the roadway to prepare for a spillway gate replacement. Emergency vehicles and school traffic will be accommodated throughout the work…
Common questions
Tennessee boat ramp closure questions
Which boat ramps are closed in Tennessee right now?
TWRA’s current closures: Temporary Road Closure Scheduled at Forks of the River WMA; Plumlee Ford Access Area Remains Closed in Van Buren County.
How do I check whether a TWRA boat ramp is open?
TWRA posts closures, alerts and reopenings on its alerts page. This page checks it every few hours, and each notice also shows at the top of the access point’s own page on this site.
Why do TWRA boat ramps close?
The notices on this page cover parking lot and ramp repairs, road work and low water. Each one links to TWRA’s announcement with the reason and any expected end date.
Are ramps unusable when TVA lakes are at winter pool?
TVA lowers most of its reservoirs toward winter pool from late summer into January. Shallow ramps can end up above the water line. Each lake page shows the current level against the operating guide.
What does a TVA dam notice mean?
It means water is leaving the dam through spillway gates, sluices or valves as well as, or instead of, the generators. The tailwater below carries that extra flow.
What does the Corps of Engineers post about Tennessee lakes?
The Nashville District runs Dale Hollow, Cordell Hull, Center Hill, Old Hickory, J. Percy Priest, Cheatham and Barkley. Its notices cover drawdowns, lock closures, road closures across dams and day-use fees.
Does a closure show on the spot pages?
Yes. When a notice names an access point in TWRA’s list, the notice appears at the top of that spot’s page and on the page for its lake or river.
How often is this page updated?
Every few hours. A closure stays listed until TWRA announces the reopening, until a week after the end date in the notice, or for 120 days.
Every notice links to the agency’s own announcement.
Notices come from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with any of them; check the linked announcement before you drive.
Keep going
More Tennessee 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.