Lake levels and your dock

The numbers

Drought: docks on the bottom

In the 2006–2008 drought the lake fell more than 20 ft below full pool, and many docks ended up on dry ground (drought overview). In a later dry spell, with the lake near 1,063 ft, the Lake Lanier Association's advice to members was blunt: move your dock while you still can (Forsyth News). This is why the plan asks for 6 ft of water at the slip end at full pool, and why where your dock sits in the cove matters.

High water: docks and walkways under

Heavy rain works the other way. With the lake about 2 ft over full pool, owners called the Corps because their walkways and docks were underwater (Gainesville Times). Docks that aren't moved or tied properly can break loose, and old floats and dock sections end up drifting in the channel.

What to ask your builder

• How deep is my slip at full pool, and at 10 ft down?
• Does the anchoring (cables, poles or stiff arms) let the dock move both ways?
• Will the gangway hinge enough for a big drop?
• Do you offer dock moving or monitoring in a drought?

Why the level is political

Lanier supplies metro Atlanta, and Alabama and Florida want water downstream. A 2009 federal ruling said Lanier wasn't authorized for water supply; the 11th Circuit reversed it in 2011, and the Supreme Court dismissed Florida's case against Georgia in 2021 (Wikipedia). Releases still set how fast the lake falls in a dry year.

Common questions