Lake Lanier Georgia - Lake Lanier Drought Marinas Parks

Hi All

We're delighted to launch forums on this site today. LakeLanier.info is growing really fast and it seems like the right time to invite you all to join in.

The forums are available to:

• Chat about fishing, boating and other lake activities.
• Buy and sell. There are classifieds forums to advertise all you have for sale.
• Meet new people.

Gwinnett County will soon be dumping more wastewater in Lake Lanier.

Officials are still waiting on final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following a six-year court battle, but the project is likely to go ahead.

Gwinnett aims to build a $45 million, nine-mile pipeline which will carry wastewater from the Buford-area F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center to the lake.

Upon approval from the corps, it has been estimated that construction should take approximately two years and make 14-acres of lake surface off-limits to boaters while construction lasts.

This project come soon after Gainesville recieved a new five year permit to increase wastewater discharge from its Flat Creek treatment plant on the north end of the Lake.

Just be sure not to eat that fish you catch this weekend.

When local fisher Jim Russell heads to the lake, he’s generally not going out just for a relaxing day on the water.

Sure, cruising around in a high-powered boat during a warm summer day has its advantages, but as one of the top professional bass fisherman in Northeast Georgia, for him there’s more to a day at the lake than just hours spent basking in the Georgia sunshine — there’s work to be done.

1. Lake Lanier adds $5.5 billion to Georgia's economy every year.
2. Lakefront house prices have risen by around 1000% in the last 20 years.
3. Currently, there are 10,300 docks on Lake Lanier. The Corps will only allow 315 more.
4. 8 million people visit the lake each year.
5. 15,000 people live on the lake.
6. Lake Lanier supplies drinking water to 65 percent of Georgia's population.
7. The lake dropped to 1052.7 feet in December 1981. Thats fifteen feet below where it is today.
8. Lake Lanier was almost built much further south in Roswell, but the final choice was Gwinnett County because fewer people would be displaced.
9. It costs $45 million to build the lake and Buford Dam. The government now spends that much and more every ten minutes.
10. Its the best place in Georgia to enjoy a weekend away!

North Georgia is suffering through a once-in-50 years drought and over the weekend Michael Lapina, a spokesman for Lake Lanier, said that water levels in Lake Lanier are likely to fall further during the next month.

Currently Lake Lanier is 4 feet below its full pool level of 1,071 feet and is expected to fall nearly 2 more feet by the end of June. Lake Lanier's situation is pretty typical. Of Georgia’s 159 counties, 95 are in extreme drought, State Climatologist David Stooksbury said, with 49 others in severe, 12 in moderate and three in mild.

Regardless if you're a novice or an expert, Lake Lanier has several academies that offer courses for all ranges of sailors. There are basic instruction and certification courses for the beginner, as well as more specific instructional courses for the more advanced sailor. Even if you aren't the sailing type, but would enjoy a sailing cruise, there are sunset cruises available just for you. Follow the links below to find the course and academy that suits your needs.

Fishermen dispersed across Lake Lanier on Saturday, May 19th in hopes of catching one of 25 tagged fish, with one fish being worth $1 million. Sponsored by the makers of Early Times Kentucky Bourbon, other prizes included a bass boat and 23 other prizes.

Officials released the 25 tagged fish on Wednesday at different locations throughout Lake Lanier, with each release point being no less than a mile apart. Anglers were able to catch plenty of fish – even some nice size spotted bass – but none held the fluorescent green tag that could won the million dollars.

Benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, the 9th Annual Duck Derby was a huge success last Saturday, May 19th. People donated from $5 for a single duck up to $100 for a pack of 25. All the 13,500 rubber ducks sold out by 11:30 at Clarks Bridge Park.

The lucky winner of the Derby took home a 22-foot pontoon boat, donated by Lanier Harbor Boat Sales & Service, with many more prizes on offer from a $100 shopping spree to a Sony Playstation.

Over the last month, we've been running a poll on LakeLanier.info, asking the question: "Does the southern part of Hall County need a Lake Lanier City?"

This was in response to the news earlier this year that people are thinking about the idea in the Flowery Branch area of Hall County.

The results of the survey:

Yes: 49.9% Maybe: 42.3% No: 7.6%

See the complete results here.

The Corps of Engineers said that low winter rain has left Lake Lanier in a bad position for the summer.

Currently, the lake level is three feet below the normal for this time of year, but during April the lake received only one-third of its normal input for that time of year.

As summer approaches, water demands will increase and the lake level will decrease. The effects may include:

• Low water levels in safe swimming area
• Boat ramps are expected to remain open for the season but will need to exercise caution when boating near the shoreline.
  

Last month, we mentioned that as part of Lake Lanier's 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Lake Lanier Association was holding a Shore Sweep to clean up parts of Lake Lanier.

The event was a big success and they now have videos of the day online. Click here to see the clips.

Some members of the Hall County Sheriff's Office go to places where very few other people ever go ... the depths of Lake Lanier. Down in the murky water, visibility is almost zero and below 60 feet the lake bottom is covered in trees. Its a much harder job than diving in a natural lake.

The officers need to dive down into the depths whenever they're looking for a drowning victim. They had to dive for ten victims in 2006 and seven in 2005.

That job just became easier, however.

Yesterday, the Corps of Engineers began a 4 month moratorium on issuing new Lake Lanier boat dock permits.

Last year, the Corps placed another moratorium on dock permits because the lake level was too low. This years' is designed to give them time to work out how many permits remain before the maximum of 10,615 is reached.

The moratorium won't affect the regular renewal or ownership transfer of permits, but it will allow the Corps to sort throught the current backlog of applications, work out which are valid. There are approximately 500 available permits remaining. By the time September arrives, the Corps will be able to provide a precise number.

There are less than 100 places remaining for the May 5th Lake Lanier Islands Triathlon Festival.

The event is known as "My First Triathlon" because it isa triathlon exclusively for first timers. For those who have already taken part there is something known as "My Next Triathlon". Both events 1/4 mile swimming, 12 miles cycling and 3 miles running.

Find out how to register by clicking here.