Overview
Lake Tugalo is a remote, 597-acre gorge reservoir on the Georgia and South Carolina border, lying in Rabun and Habersham counties in Georgia and the westernmost tip of Oconee County, South Carolina. Formed in 1923 by the Tugalo Dam, it is the fifth in a series of six Georgia Power hydroelectric lakes along the Tallulah River, sitting just above Lake Hartwell.
Tugalo is a deep, narrow lake set in a steep canyon whose walls rise nearly 1,000 feet above the water as an extension of Tallulah Gorge. Its western arm is fed by the Tallulah River and its eastern arm by the Chattooga River, and the reservoir reaches depths well over 100 feet in places. With no shoreline development and surrounding lands in the Sumter and Chattahoochee national forests, it is one of the most scenic and undisturbed lakes in the region.
The lake's cold, clear water supports trout along with largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, catfish, and bream, and it is one of the few South Carolina waters where trout are caught. Access is limited to a single boat ramp with a 25-horsepower motor restriction, and the lake also serves as a takeout for Chattooga River whitewater rafting. Fisheries are managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR).
Water levels on Lake Tugalo are managed by Georgia Power, which considers the lake full at a surface elevation of about 891.5 feet above mean sea level. As a hydroelectric lake in the Tallulah River chain, its level shifts with rainfall, upstream releases, and generation. Monitoring current lake levels is important for boating safety, fishing, and access at the lake's limited launch throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Lake Tugalo is currently 1.85 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 changeNo meaningful change
- 30-day changeUp 0.02 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 Tugalo is a 597-acre reservoir on the Tallulah River and Chattooga River managed by Georgia Power.