Lake Lanier Dropping Down to Full Pool

It sounds crazy but Lake Lanier is actually reaching full pool by dropping. The recent rains had put Lanier over 1,070 feet above sea level which is the normal winter full pool level. The situation wasn't anything like as severe as Lake Allatoona which reached more than 13 feet over full pool, but the Corps of Engineers is being cautious, particularly after the recent heavy downstream flooding. With heavier than usual rain forecast for winter and spring, the Corps of Engineers egan releasing water last week to bring the reservoir’s level down about 18 inches.

Corps spokesman Pat Robbins said that should put the lake at 1,070 feet above sea level, the normal winter full pool level.

Full summer pool level is one foot higher at 1,071 feet and it reached that level on Oct. 12 for the first time since 2005. The aim is to slowly bring the lake down to 1,070 feet by December 1st.

However, it is worth noting that predicting lake levels is a very difficult task. Just one month ago the Corps of Engineers was prediciting that the lake would be around 1,063 feet today.