Overview
Fort Patrick Henry Lake is an 872-acre run-of-river reservoir on the South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County, Tennessee, within the city of Kingsport. It was created in 1953 when the Tennessee Valley Authority completed Fort Patrick Henry Dam, named for the colonial fort once located nearby. The dam generates hydropower and regulates flow and temperature for industry and cooling water downstream.
Extending about 10 miles upstream to Boone Dam, the reservoir has roughly 37 miles of shoreline and is held in a narrow operating band. Warriors Path State Park occupies part of its shoreline, giving the lake a mix of parkland and residential banks close to Kingsport.
The lake is popular for fishing rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, and crappie, with fisheries managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. State park and TVA access areas provide boat ramps and shoreline fishing.
Water levels on Fort Patrick Henry Lake are managed by TVA as a run-of-river reservoir, typically held between about 1,258 and 1,263 feet above mean sea level. Because it receives releases from Boone Lake and passes water down the Holston, monitoring current lake levels is helpful for boating and fishing.
Current Conditions
Fort Patrick Henry Lake is currently 1.48 feet below full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.08 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.19 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Fort Patrick Henry Lake is a 872-acre reservoir on the South Fork Holston River managed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).





