The Tennessee Valley Authority operates the Tennessee River system to provide a wide range of public benefits: year-round navigation, flood damage reduction, affordable electricity, improved water quality and water supply, recreation, and economic growth.

The TVA established the stairway of nine dams and locks that turned the Tennessee River into a 652-mile-long river highway. Dams and reservoirs on the main stem of the river include the following (listed from the farthest upstream to the farthest downstream):

• Fort Loudoun Dam impounds Fort Loudoun Lake
• Watts Bar Dam impounds Watts Bar Lake
• Chickamauga Dam impounds Chickamauga Lake
• Nickajack Dam impounds Nickajack Lake
• Guntersville Dam impounds Guntersville Lake
• Wheeler Dam impounds Wheeler Lake
• Wilson Dam impounds Wilson Lake
• Pickwick Landing Dam impounds Pickwick Lake
• Kentucky Dam impounds Kentucky Lake

Tributary dams and reservoirs include:

• Apalachia Dam on the Hiwassee River forms Apalachia Reservoir
• Blue Ridge Dam dams the Toccoa River, forming Blue Ridge Reservoir
• Boone Dam on the South Fork Holston River forms Boone Reservoir
• Chatuge Dam dams the Hiwassee River to form Chatuge Reservoir
• Cherokee Dam on the Holston River forms Cherokee Lake
• Douglas Dam on the French Broad River impounds Douglas Lake
• Elk River Dam on the Elk River forms Woods Reservoir
• Fontana Dam on the Little Tennessee River impounds Fontana Lake
• Fort Patrick Henry Dam on the South Fork Holston River impounds Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir
• Hiwassee Dam dams the Hiwassee River immediately above Apalachia Reservoir
• Melton Hill Dam on the Clinch River forms Melton Hill Reservoir
• Nolichucky Dam on the Nolichucky River impounds Davy Crockett Lake
• Normandy Dam on the Duck River impounds Normandy Reservoir
• Norris Dam on the Clinch River impounds Norris Lake
• Nottely Dam on the Nottely River forms Lake Nottely
• Ocoee Dam No. 1 on the Ocoee River impounds Parksville Reservoir
• Ocoee Dam No. 2 on the Ocoee River impounds Ocoee Lake No. 2
• Ocoee Dam No. 3 on the Ocoee River impounds Ocoee Lake No. 3
• South Holston Dam dams the South Fork Holston River, forming South Holston Reservoir
• Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River forms Tellico Lake
• Tims Ford Dam on the Elk River impounds Tims Ford Lake
• Watauga Dam on the Watauga River impounds Watauga Lake
• Wilbur Dam on the Watauga River impounds Wilbur Reservoir