Old Hickory Lake Water Level
Tennessee · Cumberland River
Sponsor Old Hickory Lake
Put your marina, real-estate, or local business in front of everyone checking this lake's level. One exclusive sponsor per lake.
Cancel anytime · Questions?
Water level history
About Old Hickory Lake
Old Hickory Lake is a reservoir on the Cumberland River in Tennessee, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 445 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Old Hickory Lake's water level
Old Hickory Lake is a run-of-river reservoir on the Cumberland River, stretching about 97 miles upstream from Old Hickory Dam to the edge of Nashville. Unlike a deep storage lake that rises and falls dozens of feet, Old Hickory is held at a nearly constant level: its normal pool is about 445 feet above sea level and it seldom drops below roughly 442, so day-to-day change is usually just a foot or two. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nashville District, keeps it that steady because the dam runs a navigation lock and a powerhouse, and a stable pool is what keeps the channel open and the shoreline predictable.
That means the story of Old Hickory's level is mostly about flow, not seasonal drawdown. Water arrives from upstream, passes through Old Hickory's turbines and lock, and continues down toward Nashville. When heavy rain falls across the Cumberland basin the Corps moves that water through quickly, so the sharpest short-term changes come from storms and upstream generation rather than any planned winter drop. In a typical week the lake looks about the same on Friday as it did on Monday, which is unusual for a Corps reservoir.
For the people who use it, that stability is the appeal. Old Hickory is a Nashville-area recreation lake ringed by communities like Hendersonville and Old Hickory, with eight marinas, dozens of boat-access sites, and Corps campgrounds along its roughly 22,500 acres. Because the pool stays close to 445 feet almost all the time, docks, ramps, and lakefront homes are built around a level that rarely surprises anyone, which is the opposite of the big flood-control reservoirs elsewhere in the Cumberland system.
Old Hickory Lake — frequently asked
Why doesn't Old Hickory Lake's water level change much?
Old Hickory is a run-of-river reservoir, so the Corps passes water through the dam's lock and powerhouse rather than storing it for months. It holds the pool near 445 feet, rarely below about 442, so a steady channel stays open for navigation and the shoreline stays predictable.
What is the normal pool elevation of Old Hickory Lake?
The normal pool is about 445 feet above sea level and the lake seldom falls below roughly 442 feet, so typical fluctuation is only about a foot or two.
What makes Old Hickory's level move at all?
Its changes come from flow rather than a seasonal schedule: releases from dams upstream, storm runoff across the Cumberland basin, and hydropower generation at Old Hickory Dam. Those cause short-term rises and falls, after which the Corps returns the lake to its normal pool.
Does Old Hickory Lake get drawn down for winter like other lakes?
No. Unlike the big storage reservoirs in the region that drop many feet for winter flood storage, Old Hickory is held close to 445 feet all year, so it does not have a deep planned winter drawdown.
Why might Old Hickory Lake rise suddenly?
Heavy rain across the Cumberland River basin can send a surge of water into the lake. Because it is run-of-river, the Corps passes that flood water through the dam, so the level rises temporarily and then settles back to normal pool once the high water clears.
What is Old Hickory Lake used for?
It supports Cumberland River navigation through its lock, generates hydropower, and is a heavily used recreation lake just outside Nashville, with eight marinas, many boat-access sites, and Corps campgrounds for boating and fishing.
Other lakes near Old Hickory Lake
- Lake BarkleyKY/TN
- Boone LakeTN
- Center Hill LakeTN
- Cherokee LakeTN
- Chickamauga LakeTN
- Dale Hollow LakeKY/TN
Add this gauge to your website
Run a marina, boat rental, guide service, or real-estate site on Old Hickory Lake? Put this free live-level widget on your page — just copy and paste the code: