Lake Lanier Georgia - Lake Lanier Drought Marinas Parks

Lake Lanier remains four feet below full pool entering March, which is typically the wettest month of the year in North Georgia.

The first two months of 2007 have already seen 3 inches less rain than normal in the area and there are worries that without a rainy March, the regional drought may continue.

At Atlanta Journal Constitution quoted State climatologist David Stooksbury with the University of Georgia as saying that:

"March is historically our wettest month. If we do not receive bountiful rainfall, we are set up for a worsening drought this summer."

Lake Lanier Islands announced several pieces of good news this week.

Revenues for 2006 were $28.5 million, up from $24.2 million in the previous year and they are working on plans to spend that money and more on a renovation and expansion of the Emerald Pointe Resort .

Gwinnett businessman Virgil Williams, who leases the 1,100-acre resort from the state, said his plans are to give the 216-room hotel a rustic look.

The rooms are being overhauled in design and furniture and in June, ground will be broken for six, six-bedroom cottages, which Williams had previously announced. The cottages, which will be completed by spring 2008, represent a $6 million investment.

The project will also include renovation and expansion of the two resort restaurants, Bullfrog's and Windows. Work on Bullfrogs is set for September to November and Windows from January to March at a combined $2 million.

2007 marks Lake Lanier's 50th anniversary and a list of celebratory events has been released on www.lakelanier50.com. Special events include:

• Powerhouse Tours of Buford Dam, March 31st
  
• Atlanta Inland Sailing Club Dogwood Regatta, March 23rd – 25th
• Fun Run at Laurel Ridge Trail, April 14th
• Lake Lanier Association Spring Mini-Shoresweep, April 28th
• Rubber Duck Derby by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, May 19th.

To kick off the extravaganza celebrating 50 Days for 50 Years between June 15th and August 11th, “Wear it and Win!” buttons continue to be distributed at the 10 marinas on Lake Lanier. Lucky button holders can win boating items, T-shirts, commemorative items, key chains, and more during the 50-day promotional period.

Tour de Georgia Logo

The fifth annual cycling event will begin April 16 in Peachtree City and end April 22 in Centennial Olympic Park. Stage 6 will start from Lake Lanier Islands Resort on Saturday, April 21 and from there the cyclists will head down to the finish at Stone Mountain.

Lake Lanier Islands Resort expects fans to rent hotel rooms for the race, said Katy McLaughlin, promotions and communications director. The resort hopes people will rent boats to watch the Saturday morning race as cyclists come over the bridge.

Vision 2030 Logo

A major mixed-use community on Lake Lanier, with restaurants, an amphitheater and commercial, retail and residential space. The community is a tourist attraction and considered a model for the creative blending of residential and commercial development.

The debate about whether the YMCA or Forsyth County should own Bethel Park continues. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the park currently and they are promising to make a decision quickly.

Forsyth County is developing a plan for the park which would allow the 22,000 visitors who come every year to continue using the park. Plans may also include a new campground. A group called SaveBethelPark.com has sprung up to support this option.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta has an $18 million plan which includes cabins, a dining hall, chapel, marina, baseball complex, three amphitheatres, ropes course, pavilions, storage buildings, two beach areas and a paved parking lot for 156 cars.

The debate has made local TV stations and newspapers. The next step is a meeting on January 30th held by Forsyth County to listen to public opinion on the matter. Click here for directions.

Lake Lanier Bass

• Develop a bass trail along 15 sites on Georgia’s major rivers and reservoirs
• Lure visitors from fishing havens in other states
  
• Grow the fishing industry in Georgia that currently employs 9,000 people and add a billion dollars to the economy annually.
• Land more lucrative fishing tournaments.
• Build “mega ramps” will help the state compete for the mammoth televised competitions that can generate as much as $20 million each.
  

Lake Lanier Dock

Their reasoning is that the extra water will help solve the ongoing water disputes and encourage future growth.

Currently the lake's full pool is 1,071 feet. Adding two extra feet would mean an extra 25 billion gallons of water in Lake Lanier and would mean that an extra reservoir on the Chattahoochee River would not be needed.

In 1964 the lake rose an extra six feet, and theoretically it can rise as high as 1,085 feet without causing downstream flooding.

Lake Lanier Fishing

She was fishing with her husband, Ron, on Sunday, January 14th. The Weekly quotes Ms. Mullins as saying "I am so excited about my big fish I can hardly stand it!"

The current Lake Lanier record for striped bass stands at 46 pounds.

Click here to read more about Bass Fishing on Lake Lanier.

Lake Lanier in Winter

We have to politely disagree with that attitude. Lake Lanier is still a great place to hang out during the winter and here we present our top 10 Lake Lanier winter attractions:

Lake Lanier Turns 50

In celebration of the lake’s fiftieth anniversary, the Marine Trade Association, the Marine Operators of Lake Lanier, and the US Army Corps of Engineers have collaborated to mark the year with celebrations. A listing of events that will be held in honor of the Lake’s fiftieth anniversary will be available on www.lakelanier50.com (available from mid-January)

Lake Lanier House

Frank Norton Jr., head of the North Real Estate Agency noted that as things stand house prices on Lake Lanier will rise 7 to 9 percent. However, if the lake returns to full pool, those numbers could be closer to 12 or 14%.

Lake Lanier Bass

The park hosts over 250 tournaments every year. The upgrades only took 6 months to complete, but because the government provided no financing, it took seven years to raise the neccessary funding.

The article includes an interview with Corps Ranger Ryan Hartwig who explains that:

Lake Lanier Swim

The next installment of the Polar Bear Swim is next Monday, Jan. 1.

A lot has changed over the past ten years. The number of swimmers has increased and the number of side events grows each year.

This year the first Southern Winter Games will be held for one hour on each side of the 3:00 p.m. main event - from 2:00-4:00.

Lake Lanier Dock

The original deadline for the current talks was the end of August this year.

After a drought last year, many dock owners find their docks parked on the mud, awaiting a rise in the level of the lake. That desire is confronted by the growing water needs of the three states.