Watauga Dam, completed in 1948, created a reservoir which is used for fishing, boating, swimming, and other recreational activities in addition to flood control and hydroelectric power through the TVA. Surrounded by mountains and with the Cherokee National Forest protecting much of the shoreline from development, Watauga Lake is known for it’s clean waters and scenic beauty. The cold, deep water that drains from Watauga Lake fills smaller Wilbur Lake, one of Carter County’s “hidden gems.”