Many of us were ducking for cover when we heard the sirens and received emergency text messages about tornadoes near Lake Lanier on November 30, 2016. In spite of it all, storms didn’t affect Lake Lanier water levels.
As of December 1, 2016, we reverted to what the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) calls “winter pool.” During winter pool, Lake Lanier is considered full when the water is 1070 feet above sea level. Winter pool runs from December 1st through April 30th annually.
During the time between May 1st and November 30th — known as “summer pool” — the lake is considered full when its level is one foot higher than winter pool: 1071 feet about sea level.
(Still with me?)
On November 25, 2016, Lanier sunk to 1060.65 feet. That’s 10.35 feet below 1071 feet, the full pool for summer.
Now, (don’t give up), on December 1st, we’re back at winter pool, when the lake is thought to be full at 1070 feet above sea level. That means the 1:15 PM reading of 1060.88 is only 9.12 below (ready?) full winter pool.
Yes, it’s confusing. The bottom line is the lake is WAY down.
All the thunder, rain and whirlwind weather in late November didn’t really change anything. We are still in a drought and we still need to pray for rain.
On December 1, 2013 (the first day of winter pool), the official lake level was 1071.36 feet. That was a few inches over full pool for summertime and more than a foot above full pool for winter. That was the highest level on the first day of winter pool in 20 years.
Sooner or later, the lake will be full again. If we pray.
Didn’t anyone think of praying before NOW? Guess not, or it would have helped fill the lake and curtailed those wildfires.