Overview
Wilbur Lake is a small 72-acre run-of-river reservoir on the Watauga River in Carter County, Tennessee, immediately below Watauga Dam near Elizabethton. It was created when the Tennessee Valley Authority completed Wilbur Dam, one of the earliest hydroelectric projects in the region, later acquired and operated by TVA. Though tiny by TVA standards, Wilbur is an important reregulating pool and a gateway to the cold, clear Watauga tailwater fishery.
Steep-sided and compact, Wilbur has only about five miles of shoreline and receives cold releases from Watauga Lake above. Its clear water, short length, and intimate scale give it a quiet character compared with the large storage reservoirs upstream. The river corridor below the dam continues as a renowned trout stream framed by forested ridges of the upper Holston country.
The lake and especially its tailwaters are popular for trout fishing, paddling, and scenic day trips, with fisheries managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Limited public access is available near the dam and along the river corridor, and many anglers focus on the catch-and-release and put-and-take trout water below rather than on-lake boating. The setting draws visitors from Elizabethton, Johnson City, and the broader Tri-Cities region.
Water levels on Wilbur Lake are managed by TVA as a small run-of-river pool near 1,370 feet above mean sea level and fluctuate with generation releases from Watauga Dam. Because the pool is so small, even modest generation changes can affect fishing and paddling conditions quickly. Monitoring current lake levels and TVA generation schedules is helpful for fishing, paddling, and shoreline access throughout the year.
Current Conditions
Wilbur Reservoir is currently 3.88 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 1.48 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.66 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.
Wilbur Reservoir is a 72-acre reservoir on the Watauga River managed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).