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Jack Redington Jack Redington is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 178
Default Lake Lanier drying up?

HK wrote:
CNN had a feature on Lake Lanier this morning. Apparently water levels
are way, way down, and if there isn't some serious protracted rain soon,
a goodly portion of Georgia will be facing drought.

Meanwhile, the video showed the shorelines of the lake line with dead
shellfish and fish, left behind as the water receded.

What's the impact on boating?


While I no longer boat on Lanier, from the news many ramps are closed.
At the present time that lake is about 12 below full pool. At least that
was the last time I checked. Projections do not look good.

Georgia has been in drought conditions all of this year. Spring rains
were slight and every month has been a short. So it is not really news
anymore. Lanier has several problems when rain is short. For one the
drainage basin is small for a lake it's size. And about 6 million people
in the Atlanta area depend on it. There is also the fact this this lake
is under the Army Corps managment. At present they are letting out about
twice the amount of water that is coming in. This has alot to do with
the tri-state water war that has been going on since I have been here
(about 10 years)

The Corps has stated that they are keeping the discharge rate as it is
to protect some shellfish that need it in in Florida. That being where
the water hit the ocean. Alabama also uses/needs this water. Thus the
tri-state angle on the water resources war.

As far as impact on boating - Some ramps are closed and there are
hazzards to navigation that would not normally exist. But that is what
happens when water gets lower them normal.

If you are really interested:

http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/Pre...ersCaution.pdf

Capt Jack R..