1701.85 ft TVA datum (ft msl)
level 1.2 ft below full pool — this gauge's public record is too short for seasonal comparisons
Reading comes straight from NOAA National Water Prediction Service (NOAA gauge FONN7) and updates live when you load this page.
Full pool, datum, and the gauge
"Full pool" here means the conservation pool — the level the lake is designed to hold for water supply and recreation, not the flood-control space above it. The full explainer covers flood pool and dead pool too.
| Full pool | 1703.00 ft TVA datum (ft msl) · per TVA full-pool reference |
|---|---|
| Gauge | NOAA gauge FONN7 · NOAA National Water Prediction Service |
| Datum | TVA datum (ft msl) — 1703 is the peak of TVA's summer flood guide (operating-guide API); top of gates is 1710 (the number often quoted as 'full pool'). TVA rarely fills above the flood guide. |
| Last verified | August 15, 2026 |
LakeDates reports lake level, not ramp status. Whether a given ramp or marina is usable at this level varies ramp by ramp — call the marina before you tow.
Quick answers
How full is Fontana Lake right now?
Fontana Lake is at 1701.85 ft (TVA datum (ft msl)) as of August 15, 2026 — 1.2 ft below full pool — this gauge's public record is too short for seasonal comparisons
Is Fontana Lake full?
Not quite — at 1701.85 ft, Fontana Lake is 1.2 ft below its full pool of 1703.00 ft (TVA datum (ft msl)).
What is full pool for Fontana Lake?
Full pool (the conservation pool) for Fontana Lake is 1703.00 ft TVA datum (ft msl), per TVA full-pool reference. Levels above it use flood storage; levels below it are drawdown.