Lake Lanier is nearing its all-time high-water level, a mark that could be topped later this week as rain is forecast through Thursday.
At 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Lanier’s level stood at 1076.32 feet above mean sea level, just a foot away from the record high set 56 years ago and more than five feet above normal full pool, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The rise in the lake’s level has been fast. At the beginning of February, the lake was at exactly 1071 feet, which is normal full pool. It has risen more than five feet is less than three weeks.
About three-quarters of an inch of rain had fallen at the Gainesville airport by 5 p.m. Tuesday, and forecasters are expecting rain to continue falling through Thursday night. Rain could be heavy at times. A flash flood watch is in effect for Hall County and parts of North Georgia through Wednesday.
Over the weekend, Lanier reached 1076.34 feet, which is the second highest the lake has been. A couple of rainless days allowed the lake to drop slightly. But it’s on the rise again with the new rainfall. The previous second-highest level was 1076.20, set in April 1977.
Only one time has the lake had a higher measurement. That was in April 1964, when it reached a measurement of 1077.2 feet above sea level, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps of Engineers, which manages Lanier, said it can’t safely release water from Buford Dam to significantly lower the level, despite flooding that has closed some parks and boat ramps. The corps said releasing too much water from the dam could cause flooding in areas south of the lake.
The high water is in sharp contrast to the serious drought in 2007, when the lake level dropped to 1,050 feet, nearly 20 feet below full pool. That drought lasted until 2009 and left many docks on dry land.
