A year after record low, Lanier up 2+ feet

UNDATED - A year ago, Lake Lanier - in the throes of a major drought - hit an all-time low... a record it was expected to break earlier this month. But, while still well-below normal, the lake rebounded during the year and the level has been on the rise for 21 straight days now.

The lake "hit bottom" on December 28 2007, at 1050.79. But then began to rise again, signaling what was to be a roller-coaster ride in the new year.

The level continue to rise until it about about seven feet higher than the record low in mid-May. reaching 1057.78. Then it began to drop again until mid-August when it began another upward climb because of rains from Tropical Storm Fay which totaled 10 or more inches in some parts of the rivers basin that drains into the lake. However, it began falling again shortly after that, reaching 1050.96 on December 9. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been predicting since November that a new low would be reached in early December.

But, starting December 9, the level began rising and has been on the rise since then because of reduced flows through Buford Dam and about four inches of rain the week of December 8. The corps has since backed off predictions that a new low will be reached this winter.