Fort Loudoun Lock

Description

Fort Loudoun Lock is located near Lenoir City, Tennessee, some 55 miles downstream from Knoxville. The lock is maintained and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. It is at Tennessee River mile 602.3, some 73.4 miles upstream of Watts Bar Lock. Fort Loudoun is the uppermost dam on the Tennessee River. Fort Loudoun was the last dam built on the Tennessee River and is a Tennessee Valley Authority project. Construction of the dam began July 8, 1940 and was completed in June 1944. The dam was constructed in three phases. Phase One was the lock and earthen dam on the south side of the river. The lock was constructed on Belle Island. The lock went into operation October 10, 1943. Phase Two was the construction of the spillway. Phase Three was the construction of the Powerhouse. During the construction of the lock and earthen dam, all of the water was channeled through the main river channel. During the construction of the spillways, the water was channeled through the lock and remaining river channel. During the construction of the powerhouse, the water was diverted through the spillways and the lock. The highway bridge over the dam was not added until 1963.