Lake Lanier Water Level Update

     The last thing that most of us heard about Lake Lanier, which serves as the main water supply for most of central Georgia to include Atlanta, was that the lake was experiencing water levels dangerously low. So low that a fear was beginning to buzz about the possibility of a loss of drinking water for many Georgia residents.

     While the lack of rainfall throughout the hot summer drought definitely had a major impact on the low levels, there were other causes that factored into the levels being lower than normal as well. One such factor was a replaced lake gauge at the Buford Dam was mis-calibrated when it was installed. The result was a lake level reading that was almost two feet higher than the actual level. Nearly 22 billion U.S. gallons of excess water was released up and over the dam into the Apalachicola River to help a successful Gulf Sturgeon spawn and to protect several other species from salt-water intrusion. Georgia Governor, Sonny Perdue would eventually go onto say that the Corps of Engineers created a “man made” drought due to the fact that most of the area was already experiencing drought. Of course, from that point on, the drought got worse remaining throughout 2007.

     On December 26, 2007, Lake Lanier was recorded with a new all-time lowest water level record for the lake of 1,050.79 ft. Just to give you an indication of how severe the low water level really was, a normal full summer pool is at 1,071 ft. That’s over 20ft. Not really scary until you start talking about the drinking water supply at risk with no future relief in site. That’s exactly what the residents were faced with. Due to the low level, many new discoveries were made lying on the recently receded shore lines and lake bottom. Things such as batteries, discarded trash, sunken boats, old homes and the old Gainesville Looper Speedway were uncovered. Even stolen cars and tossed hand guns were found littering the bottom.

     On February 18, 2008, the water level finally stabilized and once again began rising. As of the April 28, 2008, the current water level reading was taken at 1057.61 ft. That is up about 7 ft from the lowest point reached in December, but still over 13 ft. low of normal pool. The good news for the residents of Georgia is that things are looking up.

     The impact the drought has had on the fishing is said to have been phenomenal. With many sources speaking about some of the best fishing they have seen on the lake due to the low lake level, many outdoor entusiasts are also excited for other reasons. Because the shoreline was exposed for so long, an abundance of grass in some areas was able to grow back in. This also occurred below the water line in some areas receiving light on the lake bottom that was never able to before. Things like this will “re-fertile” the bank and when the water rises back up to normal pool, there will be plenty of nutrients available throughout the prey and predatory food chain. Another reason was the amount of clean-up that was able to be done by various volunteers and organizations as a result of the exposed lake bottom. A clean-up consisting of removing the discarded batteries and trash etc. that had accumulated over the years.

     So while droughts like these can definitely pose a serious threat in some cases, they can offer great rewards in others. Hopefully the water level conditions on Lake Lanier will continue to improve through out 2008 along with the fishing.