WHY IS KENTUCKY LAKE HERE?

There are three reasons:

1)     Generating Electrical Power

2)     Flood Control

3)     Navigation

The TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) in conjunction with the Federal Government created Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley for these three reasons and with the Corps of Engineers control the lakes and their levels. You can find flow rates and lake levels at this TVA website as well.

Dams were built on the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers and the lakes (reservoirs) were created. The flow of water through the two dams power plants creates electricity. Some of the lowest electric bills in the country are experienced by the southeastern part of the United States because of the inexpensive (and clean) generation of electricity from the power plants.

For flood control the lakes are drawn down in the winter to 354 feet above sea level. When the watershed experiences spring rains combined with the snow melt from the north down the Mississippi and the Ohio rivers the Corps of Engineers can hold back the water flowing through the dams and allow the lakes to rise, lessening the potential for flooding downstream. Normal summer pool is 359 feet above sea level or a difference of 5 feet.

Before the dams were created navigation was treacherous. Now with the locks a great amount of product can be shipped by water. Kentucky Lake is in the process of extending their lock to handle longer barges. Currently some barges have to go through the lock in two sections taking a long amount of time and backing up traffic. The lock project has created many local jobs and the housing market has benefited by those relocating here.

Now what does all this mean to real estate?

The TVA and the Corps will not allow permanent structures to be built below the 381 contour because of the potential risk of flooding. My understanding is that if the lakes ever reached the 375 foot level the water would be flowing over the dams. If one cannot build below the 381 the property improvements could not flood and be damaged.

Do we ever see high water? That is, lake levels above the normal 359 summer pool? Yes, some springs we have experienced high water, but no homes were damaged. Depending on the lay of your lot this may result in having to clean up a trash line of sticks and small branches left by the high water. And look at it this way. We are being good neighbors to those down stream!

Now lets talk about docks. Docks can be a hazard to navigation and so the TVA and Corps of Engineers have the duty to evaluate and issue (or deny) a permit to install a dock. For unimproved lots without a dock permit, one would have to apply for dock approval. Some lot owners already have a permit and some unimproved lots even have a dock in place. Some waterfront homes have docks, some have permits for a dock but never built one, some have never applied and others were refused a dock permit. And, dock permits can and should be transferred to the purchasers following the real estate transaction.

How do you know where you can build a home? How do you apply for a dock permit? Does the home you like have a permitted dock? Can the dock be improved, add a slip, cover it, or enlarge it? When does the TVA start drawing down the lake and when does it get to winter pool?

One of our most frequent questions is how much water is at the dock at winter pool? By knowing what the lake level is on a given day and measuring the depth at the dock we can approximate the depth at winter pool. It is helpful to know how much draft your boat uses and what months you will be using it to find an appropriate property.

I answer all these questions and a lot more working with waterfront clients. Sometimes we find a good home right away and sometimes it takes time. A waterfront home I listed recently was sold in 28 days. Others are on the market longer. When working with buyers I try to listen very carefully to what they are looking for and I think that has been appreciated by my clients.

What is my advice for the person looking for waterfront property on Kentucky Lake? Hire someone like me who is very familiar with the lake and waterfront property. We lived on the lake for 12 years and raised two great children on Kentucky Lake. We fished, water skied, went tubing and swam and have loved the lake area ever since moving here in 1983. Im sure you will too!

Tell me what you are looking for and Ill start the search!

For information about the waterfront housing market on Kentucky Lake see my article "Buying a Home on Kentucky Lake".