Captains Log

Our neighboring Lake upstream to the north, is Watts Bar Lake.

Watts Bar Lake provides 39,090 acres of water surface. The navigation channel from Watts Bar Dam to Fort Loudoun Dam is 72.4 miles. Locking upstream through the 112' high dam is via a 60 x 360 lock chamber, with a 70 foot rise.

Watts Bar Lake provides many facilities of Marinas , Boat ramps, Camp Grounds and various islands. A beautiful lake to cruise and many wonderful areas to anchor for the night or weekend. Several marinas offer transit overnight dockage hook-ups. These include the popular Euchee Marina, Blue Springs Marina, and Terrace View Marina. We will come back to Watts Bar Lake at later date to viist these marinas and several others.

Continue to have a safe boating season, and hope to see you soon on the Tennesseee River Lakes.

Chickamauga Lake offers several Marinas and places to eat.

We will review a few upstream from Chickamauga Dam (RM 471.0).

On the South Shore at the dam is Chickamauga Marina (RM 471.5). The marina offers 347 wet slips, a ships store and fuel dock open 7 days a week. It is also the home of Erwin Marine sales.

Chickamauga Marina also operates Gold Point Yacht Harbor, (RM 472.5) on the north shore of the lake. Information can be found on it at the Chickamauga Marina web link.

For complete information visit: www.chickamaugamarina.com.

On the south shore, across from Chickamauga Marina, is Lakeshore Marina (RM 471.1).

www.lsmarina.com. Also located at Lakeshore marina is Top of The Dock restaurant. The marina offers 29 wet slips and new dry storage space is under construction.

Have a safe boating trip.

Chickamauga Lake is located between Tennessee River Mile 471.0 at the Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga, to River Mile 529.9 at Watts Bar Dam. This navigatable distance on 58.9 provides 784 miles of shoreline and 32,240 acres of water surface area.

Chickamauga Dam construction started in 1936 and was completed in 1940.The dam is 129 feet high and 5,800 feet long. Highway 153 runs across the dam in Chattanooga. Lock Chamber is 60 x 360 with 50' elevation change.

Watts Bar Dam construction started in 1939 and was completed in 1942. The dam is 112 feet high and 2,960 feet long. Highway 68 runs across the dam, south of Spring City, TN. Lock chamber 60 x 360 with 70' elevation change.

We are in the dog days of summer and the weather is HOT and so is the lakefront water property market.

Currently there are over 100 lakefront properties listed as active on the Chattanooga Multiple Listing service with over 60 shown as DEEP WATER, and another 40 shown as SUMMER WATER property.

If you are new to the Chickamauga Lake and Watts Bar Lake areas, let me define the terms of DEEP WATER. This generally means you would have navigatable water depth year round even with pool level variation. This term is always a topic of conversation due to who knows the subject water area. Seeing water does not mean navigatable water depth. It is always recommended to review charts, or visit the subject property by boat to confirm depth at that period.

SUMMER WATER, or also known as SEASONAL POOL, or RECREATIONAL POOL levels. This water level generally is 6 to 8 feet higher in elevation , i.e water depth during the months from May to September. Thus, leaving little or no water at some waterfront properties.

The property price will be greatly affected due to the water front water type.

Other factors that influence price of lake front property is the availabilty to be 'DOCK PERMITTED" by TVA. It is not always a fact a permit can or will be issed to a water front lot. There is a review process and paperwork process to determine the opportunity to have, or build a dock and the size, and type of dock.

I have the experience in hands-on boating navigation on both lakes, as well have worked with both buyers and sellers to successfully get dock permits approved.

Thanks for your time to read this blog, and remember, I'm here to help.