Lake level begins dropping

BUFORD - For the first time since mid-September, the level of Lake Lanier is going down.

It's apparently the result of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plans, which were announced earlier this week, to reduce the level to 1070 by December 1... the mark the corps shoots for each year at this time.

The level of the lake early Friday was 1070.46... compared to 1070.52 this time Thursday.

The last time the level moved downward was September 15...just before the first of several storm systems which in about five weeks time have dumped more than 20 inches of rain in places across the Chattahoochee River Basin, which feeds the lake.