Lake Lanier Info

Starboard Cove Marina

Lanier pumps $5.5 billion annually into the region through boat sales, hotel rooms, dock construction and permits, beer and ice sales, insurance, taxes. That number will probably be much lower next year.

Here's a quick summary of who's winning and who's losing from the water level crisis:

Business That Are Suffering

Jeff Powell, the Dam Store: "I use different gauges to measure my business — ice, Coke, chips, bait, Styrofoam plates," says Powell, "and they're all down 40-50 percent."

Starboard Cove Marina: "it's just devastating, depressing for everybody involved in business and marinas. It's like a funeral mood around here, very somber."

Billy Smith, North Georgia Floating Docks: "We're doing 10 percent of the business we normally do. It's really, really, really slow."

Frank Norton Jr, Realtor: "Sales are down 30%. There are not a lot of sales right now and a lot of people are taking their houses off the market and waiting for the drought to disappear."

Lazy Days Marina: "People are getting laid off because boat sales are down. People aren't selling much gas because it's very dangerous on the lake. Our service shop hasn't had any work the last three weeks."

Businesses That Are Thriving

Jack Jones, Vann Tavern Boat Storage: "I'm busting at the seams. We've got a lot of extra people now stored in the yard and on trailers. I stay full. I've got a waiting list."

Marine Specialties Inc.: Plenty of business moving docks to deeper water

Quotes from the AJC.

Comments (7)

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written by sean , November 12, 2007

what are pepole going to do south of us
when we run out of water/are they going to try to sue ga

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written by M. Davis , November 23, 2007

All these damages, suffering business and our huge investments sitting on backyards on the trailer. I’m so confused. Governor going to D.C. for make a deal, he is giving happy face picture to press next to Alabama and Florida Governors, than Corp of Engineering starting to release more water than ever. Governor asking people to pray for the rain, rain for what. We have rain last night and as usual, water valves are wide opened again. My Question is; who is crying for what? Who is listening each other?

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written by BOB , November 25, 2007

THINK THE TIME IS RIPE FOR ALL OF US WATERFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE NOW LOST OUR INVESTMENT TO AT LEAST SEEK SOME RELIEF FROM THE TAX DEPT TO ADJUST OUR PROPERTY TAXES ACCORDINGLY..OUR BOATS ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO FLOAT IN THE WATER, THERE IS NONE.AND THE ONLY BUYERS FOR OUR PROPERTIES NOW ONLY WANT TO PAY OFF WATER PRICES..WHY IS IT THE TOWN CAN DECIDE WHAT TAXES WHO PAYS FOREVER,WHEN IT IS THE CORPS WHO DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT ONE HAS "WATERFRONT"?
THE TAXES SHOULD FLUCTUATE WITH THE WATER!

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written by WT Glass , November 25, 2007

I agree about the property taxes - and we should not have to go thru the hassle of a tax appeal either !!!

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written by AT , December 03, 2007

TAX RELIEF? Why stop there, why not go to FEMA?

If people along rivers who have the opportunity to purchase flood insurance can choose not to, then FEMA steps in and hands them our tax dollars when there is a flood. And if people who choose to live below sea level get US handouts to relocate when there is f lood. Why shouldn't folks living on the water get handouts when the government forces them through NO FAULT of their own to live on a dessert.

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written by Scott , December 03, 2007

I think all of you are concerned about yourselves. Why not ask, "What can we do to prevent this from happening again?" Furthermore, adjust your daily uses to accomodate these questions.

It just shows that our selfish needs as Americans are once again hurting the overall scheme of things. What is going to happen with the changing weather patterns as our planet suffers from the effects of Global Warming. As a contractor that helps build water treatment plants, I see the amount of work that it takes to bring a city a clean water supply. The most cost effective way to control your water issue is to take it upon yourselves.

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written by Dana , January 09, 2008

In order to correct the deminishing lake levels - multiple issues need to be confronted and dealt with. There are little things that everyone can do to help the lake levels and the overall environmental health of the communities we live in.

If the county officials would change the current building codes and regulations ( slow down new construction and require all new structures to have gray water reclemation sytems)to allow environment to adjust and then re-evaluate the ability for new growth. The City of Atlanta has been using and still uses Lanier to flush their bathroom's daily for years due to the failing water treatment centers in Atlanta. (In order to avoid fines from the EPA (up to50,000 a day)). I have been on a total water restriction for well over a year and a half. However Many downstream have just now started with water conservation and the City of Atlanta Officials Scream Water Conservation they still release large amounts of water daily to avoid these EPA fines for poluted water in the "hooch".

NOW- What FEMA has done with the rezoning of all federal flood zoning is also hurting all of us living on lakes. With rezoning complete- I am now forced to take out flood insurance due to my distance from the water. They(FEMA) state that it's too expensive for elevation measurements- but I will pay for that to show that I'm above Flood elevations. The Goverment Agencies are having diffculties planning for future growth and developement. It is time we speak out and conserve our natural resources.