1952.17 ft TVA datum (ft MSL)
level 6.8 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 WTGT1) 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 | 1959.00 ft TVA datum (ft MSL) · per TVA full-pool reference |
|---|---|
| Gauge | NOAA gauge WTGT1 · NOAA National Water Prediction Service |
| Datum | TVA datum (ft MSL) — Full pool = TVA operating-guide summer flood-guide max (1959). NWPS gauge 'Watauga River above Watauga Dam'. |
| 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 Watauga Lake right now?
Watauga Lake is at 1952.17 ft (TVA datum (ft MSL)) as of August 15, 2026 — 6.8 ft below full pool — this gauge's public record is too short for seasonal comparisons
Is Watauga Lake full?
Not quite — at 1952.17 ft, Watauga Lake is 6.8 ft below its full pool of 1959.00 ft (TVA datum (ft MSL)).
What is full pool for Watauga Lake?
Full pool (the conservation pool) for Watauga Lake is 1959.00 ft TVA datum (ft MSL), per TVA full-pool reference. Levels above it use flood storage; levels below it are drawdown.