Q: With downstream waterways full or flooded, why is Lake Lanier not being filled to its greater capacity to better serve current and future reservoir purposes?
— George Levins, Alpharetta
A: Lake Lanier is not being filled because the available capacity above 1,071 feet (summer pool) is for flood control purposes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman E. Patrick Robbins told Q&A on the News in an email. "Given the conditions this year, and the fact that we are entering the peak of the tropical storm season, it is prudent to maintain the flood control capacity," he wrote. All of Lake Lanier's facilities, including many docks, bulkheads and marinas, were designed for the summer pool level. "While temporary levels in the flood control pool have occurred, maintaining a higher level routinely would have negative impacts on all these facilities," Robbins wrote.
Q: I know that Capt. Herb Emory and Mark Arum report on both WSB-TV and WSB radio using the same traffic equipment. Does Kirk Mellish use the same weather analysis equipment as Glenn Burns and the WSB-TV meteorologists?
— Gene Wallace, Lawrenceville
A: Mellish, the meteorologist for AM 750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB, works in a different weather center and doesn't collaborate with Burns and his WSB-TV team, he told Q&A on the News in an email. "We do share some computer models and the same Doppler radar, but I also have access to several other types of Doppler radar," Mellish wrote. "Otherwise, radio has its own weather center and storm center with its own computer models."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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