ATLANTA - Winter rains have raised Lake Lanier to its highest level since August 2007 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to release additional water down the Chattahoochee River.
The lake level has been continuously rising since mid-December and is now within feet of its full pool. The level Friday morning was 1063.61.
Florida and Alabama opposed the corps' decision last year to reduce releases from November through April 30.
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Couch, who previously requested the reduced releases, did not make such a request this time. She said sending less water down the river in May as the weather gets warmer could harm the trout population.