Editor’s Note: This is part one of the sixth article in an occasional series profiling Kentucky’s watersheds.
The Cumberland River, Part One: The Lower River Basin
Elk on land between the elk and bison prairie of the lake (U.S. Forest Service photo)
About 700 miles long, the Cumberland River rises in southeastern Kentucky near the Virginia Line, flows southwest through Tennessee, then turns north where it joins the Ohio River at Smithland, in Livingston County.
The Cumberland River basin drains 7,000 square miles in eastern and western Kentucky, and 11,000 square miles in north central Tennessee.
The Cumberland River was named by explorer and physician Thomas Walker on April 17, 1750, in honor of William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland. Walker and his reconnaissance group from Virginia first encountered the river at Pine Gap, in present-day Bell County.
In this article, the lower watershed is defined as the Cumberland River from its mouth upstream to the Kentucky/Tennessee line.
Early history
Native Americans knew the Cumberland River as Wasioto, and French traders called it the Riviere des Chaouanons, or “River of the Shawnee.”
Lower tributaries of the Cumberland
Most of the Cumberland’s lower basin was inundated by the construction of Lake Barkley in July 1966.
The longest tributary is the Little River. It’s Muddy Fork rises in Caldwell County, and the northern and southern forks of the Stinking Fork originate in Christian County. All of these forks flow into Lake Barkley west of Cadiz, in Trigg County.
It is 31 miles from Barkley Dam, at Lake City, to the mouth of the river in Livingston County. There are 10 small streams that flow into the tail waters, the largest of which is Livingston Creek, which rises in Crittenden County, south of Marion.
Lakes and Parks
Lake Barkley (image of US Army Corps of Engineers; click for larger image)
Named by Congress in honor of Kentucky Senator and Vice President Alben W. Barkley, Lake Barkley is 30 miles southeast of Paducah, in Trigg, Lyon, and Livingston counties.
The 7,985-meter earthen and concrete dam includes a navigation lock, a canal and a hydroelectric power station.
Lake Barkley forms the eastern boundary of Land Between the Lakes (LBL), a 170,000-acre National Recreation and Demonstration Area approved by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
At the summer pool (359) elevation, the 57,920-acre lake (42,020 acres in Kentucky) is 118 miles long and has 1,004 miles of shoreline. The headwaters of the lake extend to Cheatham Lock and Dam in Montgomery County, Tennessee.
The winter intake reduces Lake Barkley to 45,210 acres at an elevation of 354.
Lake Barkley is connected to Kentucky Lake by a canal at Grand Rivers.
There are two state parks.
Mineral Mound State Park is located on the northeast shore of the lake, just south of Eddyville, on Finch Lane.
Open on seasonal days and hours, the park spans 541 acres and was established in 1991 on land historically associated with author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Facilities include an 18-hole golf course, picnic area, fishing pier and boat ramp (launch is free).
For information call 270-388-3673.
Open year round, Lake Barkley State Resort Park is located about five miles west of Cadiz at US 68.
The park encompasses 3,700 hectares and was established in 1964.
Facilities include a 120-room lodge, 13 cabins, restaurant and bar, 79-site campground, eighteen-hole golf course, stair range, fitness center and indoor pool, six miles of hiking trails, eleven miles of mountain bike trails, a marina, boat dock (no launch fee), tennis courts and outdoor pool for lodge and cabin guests.
For information call 270-924-1131.
Fish and Nature Resources
Lake Barkley and the adjacent LBL are a haven for hunters and fishermen, with many wildlife viewing opportunities.
Fishing opportunities abound in the lower Cumberland basin (Photo from Wikipedia Commons)
There are quota and open hunting seasons for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and small game. In addition, there are hunting opportunities for waterfowl on Lake Barkley.
Details of the LBL hunting seasons
There are plenty of fishing opportunities for black bass, crappie, sunfish, temp bass and sauger in Lake Barkley. In addition, there are several small lakes in LBL where you can fish.
There are eight marinas on Lake Barkley, 17 boat docks on the east shore of Lake Barkley in addition to the docks at the marinas, and 11 boat docks on the west shore of Lake Barkley in LBL.
Largemouth Bass makes up about 68 percent of all black bass caught in Lake Barkley, according to the 2021 Fish Basket Survey.
The best spring fishing starts when the lake starts to rise and the fish on the flats come up.
South Bison Range at Land Between the Lakes (U.S. Forest Service Photo Form)
A top strategy at that time of year is slow-rolling spinnerbaits over submerged roadbeds as the water warms into the low ’60s.
Special Fishing Regulations and Boat Launch Pads on Lake Barkley
Wildlife spotting opportunities include elk, bison, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and several species of birds of prey, including ospreys and bald eagles.
Wildlife viewing details for Land Between the Lakes
Visit LBL’s Elk and Bison Prairie for a unique Kentucky experience. From the safety and comfort of your vehicle, moose and bison can be observed up close, with excellent photo opportunities.
Details of Elk and Bison Prairie
The lower Cumberland River basin offers unsurpassed opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, and wildlife studies. LBL is the center of the Cumberland River lower basin and one of Kentucky’s top outdoor destinations.
