Update on May 27, @ 10:00 a.m.:
Final numbers have been released from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for boating incidents from the entire Memorial Day weekend for North Georgia and across the state.
According to Mark McKinnon, Director of Public Affairs for the DNR, there were a total of four BUI arrests in the Region two lakes and waterways, two of which were from Lake Lanier. Region two goes as far south as Newton and Oglethorpe Counties out west to Dawson, Dekalb, and Forsyth Counties, and as far north as Fannin, Union and Towns Counties.
A total of two boating incidents were reported for Region two, with one reported from Lake Hartwell, on Lightwood Log Creek as a personal watercraft with three riders hit a wake and all were ejected with only one minor injury. The other incident was along Lake Blue Ridge in Fannin County with a boating incident between a Persnal Water Craft and a pontoon boat on the south side of the lake. No injuries were reported.
Statewide, the DNR reported that a total of 29 BUI's were written, with seven total incidents involving watercrafts and four injuries. There were no fatalities reported across Georgia's waterways during the holiday weekend, according to the report.
The numbers in the latest report are cumulative for Saturday, May 24th through Monday, May 26th at 11:59 p.m.
Update on May 26, 2025 @ 11 a.m.:
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released its updated total of boating incidents for North Georgia through Sunday.
According to the department, it's still a relatively tame Memorial Day weekend for Lake Lanier and surrounding waterways, with three total BUIs reported in this region.
Region two goes as far south as Newton and Oglethorpe Counties out west to Dawson, Dekalb, and Forsyth Counties and all the way up to the borders.
There was one boating incident, which happened near Lake Hartwell.
According to the Georgia DNR, game wardens on the lake responded to the incident on Lightwood Log Creek. A personal watercraft with three riders hit a wake and all were ejected.
A woman sustained a right ankle injury and was transported to a hospital in South Carolina by a family member.
There was just one BUI on Lake Lanier.
The incident near Lake Hartwell was the only one with injuries in the state so far this Memorial Day weekend.
Original story published on May 25, 2025 @ 10 a.m.:
The most recent data from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources showed that no boating incidents have been reported on Lake Lanier so far during the Memorial Day weekend.
Numbers released Sunday morning showed that though there were 12 total Boating Under the Influence arrests statewide, none were in the Northeast Georgia region as of Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Two total boating incidents were also reported statewide, none of which were on Lake Lanier or surrounding areas.
Additionally, none of the incidents reported on lakes across the state resulted in any injuries or fatalities, according to Saturday’s data.
The DNR said updated numbers will be released throughout the holiday weekend.
