Lake Lanier is more than eight feet below its full-pool benchmark as federal drought operations begin, putting the lake’s falling water level back in focus for shoreline residents and boaters.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began drought operations Monday, Nov. 2, as Lanier reached its lowest level since January 2017, Forsyth County News reported.
A Wednesday morning reading put the lake at 1,062.57 feet above sea level at 6:15 a.m., or 8.43 feet below the 1,071-foot full-pool benchmark. That is a dated measurement, rather than a live reading; the level changes as water enters and leaves the reservoir.
Why the lake keeps falling
The Lake Lanier Association’s fall assessment traced the decline to a prolonged rainfall shortfall and weak inflows, while releases continued to meet downstream water needs. Occasional wet months helped, but did not erase the accumulated deficit…