Rain, other factors play into full Lanier

While the recent rainfall has certainly helped, one expert said there were other factors at play in the rise of Lake Lanier in recent days.

 

"We've had good rain here, which obviously helps us here.  We've also have had good rain south of us, and so downstream is fine," Lake Lanier Association Executive Director Joanna Cloud said.  "We don't have to release extra water for downstream concerns.  The other thing is, we're not dealing with surface evaporation."

 

The evaporation, according to Cloud, is minimized during the cooler winter season.  All of the factors are setting the scene for a strong lake level going into spring.

 

"We always like to go into the spring and the early summer as close to full pool as possible, because the major pressure on the system really once you get to June.  That's when the major pressure on the system really kicks in," Cloud said.

 

And Cloud said this month is the first time in roughly two years that the lake will be at full level.  Tuesday afternoon, the level was at 1069.69, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

 

1070 is considered full in the winter.