In an average year the water level varies 10 feet (3.0 m) from winter to summer to provide seasonal flood storage.

[3] The reservoir is home to rainbow trout, catfish, bass, crappie, walleye, blue gill and brim.

278 families, 532 graves, and 40 miles (64 km) of roads (including part of U.S. Route 64 and all of NC 69) had to be relocated.

[7] One house relocated from the Elf community during the clearing of the land later became the Clay County School District superintendent’s office until 2005.

The TVA delayed its plans to fill the lake after a 92-year-old resident suffered a severe stroke and could not be removed from his homestead without dying.