The lake was formed in 1925 when Blue Ridge Power built a dam on the Green River at Turner Shoals.

[2] Lake Adger is approximately 438 acres (177 ha) and has over 14 miles (23 km) of shoreline.

The property around Lake Adger is private with the exception of a public boat landing that is leased from Lake Adger Homeowners Association by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for $15,000 a year for public boating and fishing.

As at 2014, the Dam was still operated by Northbrook Hydroelectric, who leases it from Polk County, for water release and electricity.

The Duke Power Steam station at Cliffside, NC, downstream of Lake Adger, uses the water released by Turner Shoals to cool the plant's turbines.