Lanier boat ramp closed

GAINESVILLE - A boat ramp on Lake Lanier has been temporarily closed by the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Department because of the low water level.

Department officials say the decision to close the ramp at Lanier Point Park was based on "criteria determined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."

The move came Tuesday as the man in charge of the operation of the lake was telling the Gainesville Kiwanis Club that the level of the lake is now about six feet below full pool and probably won't be rising anytime soon. (See separate story.)

Then Tuesday night, a federal judge ruled in Georgia's favor on a request from Florida that more water be released from Lanier and other Chattahoochee reservoirs to help protect that state's endangered mussels. (See separate story.)

Last Friday, state Climatologist David Stooksbury said some of south Georgia's large rivers, the Altamaha and Ocmulgee, set record low-flow records for the day on Friday.

Early Wednesday morning the level of Lake Lanier was at 1064.65.