TVA began construction of Guntersville Dam in 1935 and completed the project in 1939 as part of the integrated Tennessee River system.
The dam was built for flood control, navigation and electricity. TVA's stairway of locks and dams transformed the Tennessee River into a major navigation corridor and helped Guntersville develop as a river port.
Guntersville Reservoir extends roughly 76 miles along the Tennessee River. TVA reports about 67,900 acres of water surface and nearly 890 miles of shoreline, with the upper end reaching into Tennessee.
Over time, the lake's shallow stable water and broad aquatic-vegetation beds helped create a nationally important bass fishery while supporting crappie, sunfish, sauger, walleye, striped bass and catfish.