On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 13, 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Lake Lanier posted on their Facebook page that they will reopen their Lower Pool West Park to the public on Thursday, June 14th.
On May 30, 2018, the USACE office announced a significant change to the discharge schedule at Buford Dam. Continuous releases — due to high water from the storm named Alberto — made the Chattahoochee River below the dam unsafe for wading, fishing and boating.
On Monday, June 4, 2018, Lake Lanier’s level was 1074.73 feet above sea level, almost three feet above the level that is considered full during the summer.  On Wednesday, June 13th, the USACE releases from Buford Dam had dropped the lake’s level down to 1072.64 — about 20″ above full summer pool.
The new USACE water release schedule indicates no “main generation” as of Thursday, June 14th; therefore, they will reopen Lower Pool West Park for public use on Thursday.
According to the USACE, these parks on Lake Lanier remain closed:
- Buford Dam Park
- Lanier Park
- Little Hall
- Keith’s Bridge
- Long Hollow
- and the 1st beach at West Bank.
All other parks and ramps are currently open.
To check the status of open or closed parks on Lanier, click here.
Our friends with the USACE urge you to check the current status of water releases before each visit to the waters below Buford Dam. Conditions may change without prior notice.
How to Check on Buford Dam Water Releases
Online Resources
- Click Here for USACE Links to Water Releases
- Select:Â “Buford Dam/Lake Sidney Lanier” from the drop-down menu.
- Then, select the date you want from the second drop-down menu that will appear.
Telephone Resources
- Toll-free phone number:Â 855-326-3569
- Local number:Â 770-945-1466
Low-Power AM Radio Station
A low-power radio station continuously broadcasts water release information in the immediate vicinity of Buford Dam. Tune to 1610 AM to hear the latest information.
