Overview
Lake Cumberland is a roughly 50,250-acre reservoir on the Cumberland River in south-central Kentucky, impounded by Wolf Creek Dam near Jamestown. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District operates the project for flood risk management, hydropower, and recreation. At power-pool elevation it is one of the largest reservoirs east of the Mississippi by volume and a signature Kentucky recreation lake.
With about 1,255 miles of shoreline at the top of the flood pool and depths reaching roughly 200 feet near the dam, Cumberland is a deep, dendritic reservoir of steep hollows, long creek arms, and clear to stained main-lake water. The power pool extends from about 673 to 723 feet (NGVD29), with flood storage above 723 feet to 760 feet.
The lake is famous for striped bass, smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, and walleye, with fisheries managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. State parks, marinas, and Corps recreation areas provide extensive public access across multiple counties.
Water levels are managed by the Corps around a summer power-pool target of 723 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with a lower winter guide near 690 feet and flood storage to 760 feet. Elevations can change substantially with generation and flood operations, so monitoring current lake levels is essential for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Lake Cumberland is currently 15.18 feet below full pool and has been falling over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.76 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.38 ft
- Drought conditionsAbnormally Dry
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Cumberland is a 50,250-acre reservoir on the Cumberland River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.