Right now
Great Falls Lake water level
Great Falls Lake is at 794.75 ft, falling 0.19 ft over the last 24 hours, 5.25 ft below TVA’s guide level for the date. TVA has no generation scheduled at Great Falls Dam on Oct 1.
Great Falls Lake level
794.75 ft
Reading at Midnight CDT, Sep 30
Last 24 hours
▼ 0.19 ft
Falling since Midnight CDT Sep 29
Against TVA’s target
5.25 ft below
TVA guide level for Sep 30: 800.00 ft
Release from Great Falls Dam
160 cfs
Hourly average, Midnight CDT, Sep 30
Tailwater level
649.69 ft
Below Great Falls Dam, Midnight CDT, Sep 30
Same date last year
799.97 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
Great Falls Dam generation schedule
TVA posts the hours Great Falls 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
- Midnight to Midnight CDTNo generation
1 generator2 or moreNo generationNot posted
Below Great Falls Dam is the Caney Fork River. Its public access points, with directions, are on the Caney Fork River page.
Next few days
Great Falls Lake level forecast
TVA’s forecast of the Great Falls 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 | 794.68 ft | 0 cfs | |
| Oct 2 | 794.58 ft | 0 cfs | |
| Oct 3 | 794.60 ft | 18 cfs | 0 cfs |
The year so far
Great Falls Lake level this year against TVA’s guide
Each line is the Great Falls Lake level at midnight. The 2026 line runs up to the latest day TVA has published.
20262025TVA guide levelOperating zone
TVA’s guide level for Great Falls Lake peaks at 800.00 ft, first reached on May 30, and is lowest at 785.00 ft, first reached on Jan 1.
Weather
Great Falls Lake weather and wind forecast
Thu, Oct 1 night
63°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SE 5 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1
92°F
Sunny
Wind S 5 to 10 mph
0% chance of rain
Thu, Oct 1 night
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Wind S 5 mph
1% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2
89°F
Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind SW 5 to 10 mph
49% chance of rain
Fri, Oct 2 night
66°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
Wind E 0 to 5 mph
67% chance of rain
Sat, Oct 3
80°F
Areas Of Fog
Wind ENE 0 to 5 mph
67% chance of rain
National Weather Service forecast, updated 6:51 PM, Wed, Sep 30.
Sun and moon, Thu, Oct 8
Bigger purchases
Gear compared for a boat on Great Falls 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 Great Falls Lake
Other lakes
More Elk, Duck and Caney Fork lakes levels
Common questions
Great Falls Lake level questions
What level does TVA aim to keep Great Falls Lake at?
TVA’s guide level for Great Falls Lake peaks at 800.00 ft, first reached on May 30, and is lowest at 785.00 ft, first reached on Jan 1.
When does Great Falls Dam generate?
TVA posts the Great Falls 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 Great Falls Lake level mean?
It is the height of the lake surface in feet above sea level, measured at Great Falls 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 Great Falls 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.
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 Great Falls 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 Great Falls Lake: Great Falls Lake conditions.