USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

08021400 Lake Cherokee near Tatum, TX

LOCATION - Lat 32°22'09.10", long 94°40'06.83" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Rusk County, TX, Hydrologic Unit 12010002, on right bank 10.0 mi southeast of Longview, 9.6 mi northwest of Tatum and 3.7 mi upstream of the dam. 

DRAINAGE AREA - 158 mi².  

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - Feb. 2017 to current year. PERIOD OF RECORD, Water-Quality.-- CHEMICAL DATA: Dec. 1961 to Jan. 1983. BIOCHEMICAL DATA: Dec. 1961 to June 1973. RADIOCHEMICAL DATA: Jan. 1981.

GAGE - Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is NAVD of 1988. Satellite telemeter at station.

REMARKS - The lake is owned and operated by the Cherokee Water Company to supply water for municipal, industrial, and recreational purposes. Construction on the dam began in February 1948 and was completed on November 19, 1948. The reservoir capacity is 68,700 acre-feet at the crest of the emergency spillway. The city of Longview diverts water for municipal use. The Southwestern Power Company circulates water from the lake for condenser cooling of the steam-turbine generating units at the Knox Lee Power Plant. According to the Texas Water Development Board 2015 survey, the lake has a capacity of 44,475 acre-feet and a surface area of 3,749 acres at the crest of the service spillway elevation of 280 feet above mean sea level. The average annual sediment filling rate at Lake Cherokee is approximately 109 acre-feet per year.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum elevation, 282.38 ft, Nov. 22, 2018; minimum elevation, at least 277.36 ft, Sept. 2018.