Five years ago today, Lake Lanier sunk (sank?) to its lowest level — 1,050.79 feet above sea level.
Today, Lake Lanier stands at 1057.28, according to USLakes.info. That’s 12.72 feet below “winter full pool” — even though USLakes.info says Lanier is down 13.72 feet.
Depending on the time of year, Lake Lanier is at “full pool” at either 1,071 feet (from May 1 through November 30) or 1,070 feet (from December 1 through April 30).
An optimist might say today’s level is 6.5 feet above the low water mark. That’s why no one likes optimists.
The lake’s level is not just an ethereal or irrelevant statistic. The water level determines, obviously, if the motorboats, sailboats, PWCs, canoes, kayaks and floats of The Lake People are dry-docked.
The more plebeian among us are concerned if and where we can put our boats into Lake Lanier.
This list shows the elevation of sixteen boat ramps on Lanier that might be open (of more than 100) when you read this.
If the lake level goes down, it’s less likely these ramps will be open and vice versa. Also, as any boat owner knows, you need to get your boat INTO the water for it to float. Just getting the back wheels of your trailer to touch the waterline doesn’t count. (Unless you can toss it the rest of the way.)
Therefore, we present to you the published boat ramp levels at these parks on Lake Lanier with cheerful confidence that it will help you determine which boat ramps are open. (But it might be the grog speaking.)
- Laurel Park: 1048
- Charleston Park: 1048.8
- Balus Creek Park: 1049.5
- Tidwell Park: 1051.2
- Shoal Creek Park: 1053.1
- Sardis Creek Park: 1053.3
- Big Creek Park: 1053.7
- Little Hall Park: 1054
- East Bank Park: 1054
- Van Pugh Park North:
- Old Federal Park: 1054.4
- Little River Park: 1055.7
- Vanns Tavern Park: 1056.1
- Clarks Bridge Park: 1056.2
- War Hill Park: 1056.2
- Wahoo Creek Park: 1056.4
We’ll update this list in the weeks ahead.
