Right now
Douglas Lake water level
Douglas Lake is at 976.16 ft, falling 0.70 ft over the last 24 hours, 0.21 ft above TVA’s guide level for the date. Below Douglas Dam, generation is scheduled on Oct 1 from 4 AM to 5 AM EDT and 8 AM to midnight EDT.
Douglas Lake level
976.16 ft
Reading at 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Last 24 hours
▼ 0.70 ft
Falling since 1 AM EDT Sep 30
Against TVA’s target
0.21 ft above
TVA guide level for Oct 1: 975.95 ft
Release from Douglas Dam
4,635 cfs
Hourly average, 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Tailwater level
872.27 ft
Below Douglas Dam, 1 AM EDT, Oct 1
Same date last year
976.66 ft
Midnight level, Oct 1
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
Douglas Dam generation schedule
TVA posts the hours Douglas 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. The schedule can change during the day.
Oct 1
- 1 AM to 4 AM EDTNo generation
- 4 AM to 5 AM EDT1 generator
- 5 AM to 8 AM EDTNo generation
- 8 AM to 10 AM EDT1 generator
- 10 AM to Midnight EDT2 or more generators
Oct 2
- Midnight to 1 AM EDT2 or more generators
1 generator2 or moreNo generationNot posted
Below Douglas Dam is the French Broad River. Its public access points, with directions, are on the French Broad River page.
Next few days
Douglas Lake level forecast
TVA’s forecast of the Douglas Lake 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 | 975.45 ft | 933 cfs | 8,162 cfs |
| Oct 2 | 974.79 ft | 890 cfs | 8,000 cfs |
| Oct 3 | 974.46 ft | 1,515 cfs | 5,000 cfs |
The year so far
Douglas Lake level this year against TVA’s guide
Each line is the Douglas Lake level at midnight. The 2026 line runs up to the latest day TVA has published.
20262025TVA guide levelExpected rangeFlood guide
TVA’s guide level for Douglas Lake peaks at 993.88 ft, first reached on Jun 4, and is lowest at 948.00 ft, first reached on Feb 12.
The flood guide ranges from 954.00 ft to 994.00 ft over the year.
Weather
Douglas Lake weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
59°F
Mostly Clear
Wind 0 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
88°F
Sunny
Wind W 0 to 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
63°F
Mostly Clear
Wind 0 mph
0% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
88°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind W 0 to 10 mph
41% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind NW 0 to 5 mph
62% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
80°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind NE 0 to 5 mph
78% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 1:06 AM, Thu, Oct 1.
Sun and moon, Fri, Oct 9
Tournaments
Douglas Lake tournament schedule
MLF College Heavy Hitters
Oct 25, 2026 · Major League Fishing
Launch: Dandridge Boat Dock and Ramp, 157 Public Drive, Dandridge
Bill Dance Giant Bass Open
Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026 · Jefferson County Tourism listing
Launch: Dandridge ramp, Dandridge
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for a boat on Douglas Lake
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 Douglas Lake
Other lakes
More East Tennessee tributary lakes levels
Common questions
Douglas Lake level questions
What level does TVA aim to keep Douglas Lake at?
TVA’s guide level for Douglas Lake peaks at 993.88 ft, first reached on Jun 4, and is lowest at 948.00 ft, first reached on Feb 12. The flood guide ranges from 954.00 ft to 994.00 ft over the year.
When does Douglas Dam generate?
TVA posts the Douglas Dam generation schedule for the current day and the start of the next. This page shows it hour by hour. Outside the posted hours the dam may still release a small minimum flow.
What does the Douglas Lake level mean?
It is the height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, measured at Douglas 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 Douglas Lake 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 Douglas Lake?
TWRA lists 21 public access points on Douglas Lake, 15 of them with a boat ramp. The Douglas Lake page has directions to each.
Lake levels, releases, generation schedules and forecasts come from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Tennessee Fishing Spots is not affiliated with TVA. TVA’s lake data does not include water temperature, so none is shown.
Keep going
More Douglas Lake 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.
Before you launch, check today's level, dam release schedule and any weather alerts for Douglas Lake: Douglas Lake conditions.