Overview
Lake Santeetlah is a 2,881-acre reservoir on the Cheoah River in Graham County, in the mountains of western North Carolina near Robbinsville. It was completed in 1928 by the Tallassee Power Company (later Alcoa/Tapoco) and is now owned and operated by Brookfield Renewable as part of the Tapoco Project, with water diverted through a five-mile tunnel to the Santeetlah Powerhouse on the Little Tennessee River.
Santeetlah has about 79 miles of shoreline, roughly three-quarters of which is undeveloped forest within the Nantahala National Forest, giving it a strikingly natural setting surrounded by the Snowbird and Cheoah mountain ranges. Its clear, cool water, deep coves, and mountain backdrop make it one of the most scenic lakes in the state.
The lake is a well-regarded fishery for smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, muskie, and bream, and it is popular for boating, paddling, and lakeside camping. Fisheries are managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and Forest Service and Brookfield access areas, ramps, and campgrounds serve the reservoir.
Water levels on Lake Santeetlah are managed by Brookfield Renewable under its FERC license, with a normal full pool near 1,940.9 feet above mean sea level and a modest seasonal drawdown. Because the reservoir is operated for hydropower with limited TVA coordination, its level shifts with rainfall and generation, so monitoring current lake levels is helpful for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Santeetlah Lake is currently 1.37 feet below full pool and has remained relatively stable over the past seven days.
- 7-day trendStableLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.06 ft
- 30-day changeUp 1.61 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.
Santeetlah Lake is a 2,881-acre reservoir on the Cheoah River managed by Brookfield Renewable (Tapoco Project).