Overview
Lake Tillery is a roughly 5,260-acre reservoir on the Pee Dee River system in central North Carolina, primarily in Montgomery and Stanly counties near Mount Gilead and Norwood. Formed in the late 1920s by Tillery Dam, the lake is operated by Duke Energy as part of the Yadkin-Pee Dee hydroelectric chain. Its moderate size, long shoreline, and position between the Uwharrie region and the Pee Dee make it a significant recreation and power resource.
With about 118 miles of shoreline, Tillery mixes wooded coves, creek arms, residential waterfront, and broader open-water sections. Defined river and creek channels, points, submerged structure, and transitional habitat zones create a varied underwater landscape, while the Uwharrie National Forest and surrounding hills give portions of the lake a scenic Piedmont character.
Lake Tillery supports a productive fishery of largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, striped bass, and panfish, with management by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Marinas, public ramps, and lakeside communities draw boaters and anglers from the Charlotte and Triad regions, and the reservoir is a popular destination for waterfront recreation in the Uwharrie area.
Water levels are managed by Duke Energy for hydroelectric generation around a normal full-pond elevation near 278 feet. Tillery sits in the Yadkin-Pee Dee system above Blewett Falls Lake, so elevations respond to rainfall, generation demand, and coordinated river operations; monitoring current lake levels is important for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Lake Tillery is currently 0.51 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.18 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.16 ft
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Tillery is a 5,260-acre reservoir on the Pee Dee River managed by Duke Energy.