Lake Lanier will receive $8.3 million in federal stimulus money out of a larger package of $293 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mobile District.

There is a possible added bonus in the form of $3 million to complete a study tied to the management of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin. That basin and the use of its water has been a contentious issue between Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The new study would set guidelines for when and how much water should be released from Lanier. That may prove welcome to people in the Lake Lanier area because the Corps recently surprised people with its decision to increase outflows from the lake.

Here is a full breakdown of the projects planned for Lake Lanier. The Corps promises to start awarding the first contracts within 45 days.

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We've had boats out on trips everyday since my last report and we continue you to see good action on both stripers and spotted bass. This morning was no exception. The stripers were up shallow when the sun got overhead and they were blowing up on the bait strong. When our customers were reeling in fish, there would be 3 or 4 stripers following the one on the hook. The boat traffic was low and the fish were relaxed and stayed around for a while. We are catching stripers on freelined bluebacks, gizzard shad, and on Redfins. There are stripers on slow tapering points, shallow humps, and on shallow flats both north and south. Most of our fish are coming from the mouths to the middle of creeks and some on the main lake, especially the further north you go. Keep a Super Spook or Redfin handy as I have seen decent numbers of 5-15 pound stripers busting on top this week. We are also catching and releasing many big spotted bass while striper fishing. This report is brought to you Shane Watson Guide Service and Hammond's Fishing Center. Good Fishing and We Appreciate Everyone's Business.

Next weel on April 22nd, Lake Lanier's campgrounds will start reopening for the 2009 summer season. Old Federal and Bald Ridge opened early at the end of March and the others are accepting campers in just a few days.

This year, there will be one more campground to add to the list. Bolding Mill Campground is being re-opened. Bolding Mill is on one of the quieter, northern parts of the lake, opposite War Hill Park. It was closed to the public in 2005 and will relaunch with the following amenities:

• RV sites with electricity and water plus more basic tent sites
  
• All sites have a picnic table, fire ring, and grill
• Shower facilities, playground, and boat ramp.

 

After a very wet March, Lake Lanier has been transformed. Earlier this year fishermen had few choices on where to enter the lake. Water levels were nearing record lows and few boat ramps were open.

Now in mid-April the lake's water deficit is less than half what it was and the majority of boat ramps are open. When the lake hovers around 1062 feet above sea level as it does now, up to a dozen boat ramps open up each time the lake rises another foot.

War Hill Park in Dawson County is one of those to reopen recently with an additional three boat ramps now available.

Dawson County Recreation Director Lisa Henson commented at Access North Georgia that the improved water levels stimulates activity and events in the local area:

"We are getting great feedback on the recent campsite and picnic area improvements and work is continuing on the pier renovations and beach area. If you haven't been out to the park recently, you've really got to see it. We've already had three requests for fishing tournaments out of War Hill Park and most recently a request for a September wedding using the entire park."