Brookfield Smoky Mountain Hydropower is proud to support recreation and environmental activities at its facilities. Opportunities exist for camping, fishing, canoeing and boating. More than 30 recreation areas are operated and maintained solely and/or in cooperation with state and federal agency partners.

Santeetlah Dam is located in Graham County, North Carolina, on the Cheoah River. The Santeetlah facility was completed in 1928, and consists of a dam, pipeline/tunnel and powerhouse. Santeetlah Dam impounds Santeetlah Reservoir.

The Santeetlah facility is operated as a storage impoundment in accordance with an annual operating curve, which establishes target seasonal reservoir levels.

Currently Santeetlah Reservoir is operated to maintain high recreational elevations during the summer months, followed by fall drawdown to allow for collection of rainfall and run-off during the late fall, winter, and early spring. The current operating curve was developed to also provide protection and enhancement for a variety of other resources and uses, including aquatic species and habitat, water quality, reservoir wetlands, archaeological sites, and scenic appearance throughout the year.

Santeetlah Dam releases flows into the Cheoah River according to a regular schedule. These flows are based on average daily inflow from the preceding three months. The intent of these flows is the protection, enhancement, and restoration of Cheoah River aquatic and riparian associated biological communities.