Watauga Lake a hotspot for activity

Despite being filled with tons of trash and logs after Helene, the highest-elevation lake in Tennessee on the border of Johnson and Carter counties has rebounded to remain a top outdoor destination in the region. At 16 miles long and 6,430 acres, the TVA reservoir has become a hot spot for outdoor activity. Year-round, fishers take to the waters for a peaceful day. In the summer, warmer weather attracts boaters and recreational adventurers from all over. Surrounded by the Cherokee National Forest, hikers can enjoy treks around the area. Now, boaters have more public options. In 2025, after years of obstacles, the Johnson County-based Sink Mountain Boat Ramp opened to the pubic. For $4.2 million, which came from state coffers, the three-year project was completed just before the Fourth of July. The pristine condition of the lake is the result of a lot of work post-Helene. Cleanup days have resulted in thousands of pounds of trash being picked up over the years. In September 2025, 11,760 pounds were collected. Previously, 12,300 and 12,500 pounds were collected in 2023 and 2022, respectively. In less than a year, crews collected more than 300,000 cubic yards of debris from Watauga Lake and Carter County streams, according to state officials. This included hundreds of fallen trees and logs. The Knoxville-based engineering firm of Phillips & Jordan was the lead contractor. The operation, led by a coordinated effort of federal, state and local agencies, took several months of work to restore safe access to waterways and mitigate environmental impacts. While the scope of debris removal has been extensive, not all debris poses a risk to public health or safety, and some debris will remain in the waterways, state officials said. The cleanup preceded the biggest fishing tournament in the history of Watauga Lake, coming on the anniversary day Helene struck the Southern Appalachians. From Sept. 26-29, 2025, Watauga Lake hosted the 2025 Bassmaster College Classic. Using funding provided by TVA Public Land Management, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency installed at least 75 large habitat structures at approved sites within the reservoir. This initiative aimed to provide long-term, high-quality habitat for a variety of fish species, contributing to the ecological health and sustainability of Watauga Reservoir. There's also live music to enjoy at Cove Ridge Marina as part of its 2026 Summer Concert Series. Every Saturday night, Memorial Day through Labor Day, a different act will bring its talents to the lake.