Lake Lanier in November

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Lake Lanier in November

View aerial photos of Lake Lanier in November 2007

The ongoing effects of Georgia's historic drought are seen in the rapidly receding water and expansion of the sandy shoreline in this Nov. 3 photo.

Some experts point to overdevelopment as one of the reasons that this drought is having such an impact on Atlanta and the Southeast.

Less rainfall and steady releases from Buford Dam are showing parts of the lake that have not been seen in many years. As of Nov. 3 the water level stood at 1,055 feet, or 16 feet below the summer level of 1,071 feet.

Gov. Sonny Perdue's order for public-water providers in North Georgia to cut water usage by 10 percent over last winter's average went into effect Nov. 1. In October, the first full month under Level 4 drought regulations, metro Atlanta's five major water providers were not even close to reaching the governor's mandate, according to the AJC's review of records.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin on Nov. 2 said that the city will try to meet Gov. Sonny Perdue's demand of 10 percent less winter water use - but it won't be easy. After announcing the measures that the city would take, Franklin noted that Atlanta is experiencing a large population increase that will require greater demands on its water system.

These boat docks are still in deep enough water but the ongoing effects of the state's historic drought can be seen in the expanding shoreline.

This photo shows the increasing size of Lake Lanier's shoreline. The drought problem is so serious that at the recent University of Georgia homecoming game, 93,000 fans were asked to not flush toilets "if it's yellow" and leave handle-pulling to attendants.

Three governors - Georgia's Sonny Perdue, Alabama's Bob Riley and Florida's Charlie Crist - agreed during a private lunch with the U.S. secretary of the interior and the chairman of the White House's Council on Environmental Quality to reach a comprehensive agreement by early next year.

A look back at Lake Lanier during the drought of 2007. The new rules state it will be up to the director of the state Environmental Protection Division to monitor climate conditions and decide which areas of the state are in drought and what level of restrictions might be necessary.

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The ongoing effects of Georgia's historic drought are seen in the rapidly receding water and expansion of the sandy shoreline in this Nov. 3 photo.

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