Level of Lanier dropping again

BUFORD - The rains that kept Lake Lanier almost a foot above full pool since it reached that point Oct. 14 for the first time in four years have abated and the level of Lanier has started dropping.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced two weeks ago that it was resuming normal operations at Buford Dam - includng increased releases from Lanier - now that the drought is over and the lake is full again. But the level had continued to rise because of another several inches of rain that fell throughout the drainage basin after the corps' announcement.

But now that the rains have ended, the lake has dropped .35 of a foot just this week.

The level early Thursday was 1071.37.