Lake Tugalo
Encyclopedia
Lake Tugalo is a 597 acres (2.4 km²) reservoir
with 18 miles (29 km) of shoreline located in the northeastern Georgia
in Habersham
and Rabun
counties, but also lies partially in Oconee County, South Carolina. It is the fifth lake in a six-lake series created by hydroelectric dams operated by Georgia Power
that follows the original course of the Tallulah River
. The series starts upstream on the Tallulah River with Lake Burton
followed by Lake Seed
, Lake Rabun
, Lake Tallulah Falls and Lake Tugalo, ending with Lake Yonah
. The western arm of Lake Tugalo is filled by the Tallulah River and the eastern arm is filled by the Chattooga River
. Georgia Power considers the lake full at a surface elevation of 891.5 feet (271.7 m).
Lake Tugalo began filling in 1923 with the completion of the Tugalo Dam, a gravity concrete and masonry dam. The dam is 155 feet (47.2 m) high and has a span of 740 feet (225.6 m). The Tugalo Hydroelectric Plant has a generation capacity of 45 megawatts.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
with 18 miles (29 km) of shoreline located in the northeastern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in Habersham
Habersham County, Georgia
Habersham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818, and named for Colonel Joseph Habersham. As of 2000, the population was 35,902. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 42,272. Clarkesville is the county seat.Chartered in 1823, the...
and Rabun
Rabun County, Georgia
Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 15,050. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 16,519...
counties, but also lies partially in Oconee County, South Carolina. It is the fifth lake in a six-lake series created by hydroelectric dams operated by Georgia Power
Georgia Power
Georgia Power is an electric utility headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is the largest of the four electric utilities that are owned and operated by Southern Company....
that follows the original course of the Tallulah River
Tallulah River
The Tallulah River is a river in Georgia and North Carolina. It begins in Clay County, North Carolina, near Standing Indian Mountain in the Southern Nantahala Wilderness and flows south into Georgia, crossing the state line into Towns County. The river then travels through Rabun County and ends in...
. The series starts upstream on the Tallulah River with Lake Burton
Lake Burton (Georgia)
Lake Burton is a 2,775 acre reservoir with 62 miles of shoreline located in the northeastern corner of Georgia in Rabun County. It is the first lake in a six-lake series called the Tallulah River Watershed that follows the original course of the Tallulah River...
followed by Lake Seed
Lake Seed
Lake Seed is a 240 acre reservoir with 13 miles of shoreline located in Rabun County, in the northeastern corner of Georgia, USA. It is the second lake in a series of six lakes that follow the original riverbed of the Tallulah River. Each lake in the chain is created by hydroelectric dams...
, Lake Rabun
Lake Rabun
Lake Rabun is a twisty reservoir with of shoreline located in the Northeastern corner of Georgia in Rabun County. It is the third lake in a six-lake series that follows the original course of the Tallulah River. The series begins with Lake Burton as the northernmost lake, followed by Lake Seed,...
, Lake Tallulah Falls and Lake Tugalo, ending with Lake Yonah
Lake Yonah
Lake Yonah is a lake on the Tugaloo River, separating Georgia and South Carolina. The lake is created by the Yonah Dam, which is owned by Georgia Power. Lake Yonah is a residential lake with about seventy-two vacation and permanent homes...
. The western arm of Lake Tugalo is filled by the Tallulah River and the eastern arm is filled by the Chattooga River
Chattooga River
The Chattooga River is the main tributary of the Tugaloo River. Its headwaters are located southwest of Cashiers, North Carolina, and it stretches to where it has its confluence with the Tallulah River within Lake Tugalo, held back by the Tugalo Dam...
. Georgia Power considers the lake full at a surface elevation of 891.5 feet (271.7 m).
Lake Tugalo began filling in 1923 with the completion of the Tugalo Dam, a gravity concrete and masonry dam. The dam is 155 feet (47.2 m) high and has a span of 740 feet (225.6 m). The Tugalo Hydroelectric Plant has a generation capacity of 45 megawatts.