Lake Lanier rises a foot over weekend

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Constant rains have brought inflow into Lake Lanier at historic levels.

“This is an unprecedented rain event that’s occurring right now,” said Lisa Coghlan, deputy public affairs director for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “and if it proceeds forward for the rest of the week, it’s all good news for Lake Lanier.”

The swell from rivers and streams helped elevate the lake level by more than one foot over the weekend. Lake Lanier remains almost five feet below full pool of 1071.

While the lake level is at its highest level in two months — 1066.14 feet and rising — the average inflow from northern streams is at record levels. Average inflow from midnight to 4 a.m. Monday was at 32,265 cubic feet per second.

“The ground is already saturated, so you’re having elevated runoff,” Coghlan said. “The water’s actually making it into the lake.”

Sustained inflow at this level would challenge the mark set in the fall of 1998, when an average of 33,257 cubic feet per second flowed into Lanier on Oct. 26.

The Lanier projects office reported no roads, parks or beaches are closed, and they don’t anticipate any closures, Coghlan said. However, farther south at Lake West Point in Troop County, there have been some closures at the R. Shaefer Heard Campground due to high water.