While officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported Thursday afternoon that boating and swimming on Lake Lanier was not a danger because of rapid currents from storm activity this week, they've now announced the closure of a number of facilities around the lake because of high water levels that make it unsafe for swimming.
In addition, the ongoing storms have washed fecal matter from animals into the lake, which has made for less than ideal swimming situations. However, Nicholas Baggett with the Corps office in Buford said Monday there is only one Corps-managed beach area (Bolding Mill) that has closed because of dangerously high levels of bacteria. Two Hall County-run beaches on Lake Lanier are closed because of bacteria concerns.
The Corps released the following list of closures on Friday:
Boat Ramps:
- Old Federal Campground
- Van Pugh South
- Little River
- Thompson Bridge
- Bolding Mill
- Toto Creek
- Little Hall
- Keith Bridge
- Two Mile
Beaches:
- Van Pugh North
- Old Federal Day Use
- Duckett Mill
- Little Hall
- Bolding Mill
- Keith Bridge
- Burton Mill
- West Bank
- Buford Dam Park
Parks:
- Sardis Creek
- Little Ridge
- Long Hollow
- Simpson
- Robinson
Local governments have also restricted activity in parks around the lake. All officials advise checking ahead of time before making a trip to any park for weekend recreation, since facilities may be closed.
There is no word on when facilities may reopen.
