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Buford Dam reduces elevation
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MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District recently returned to normal water control operations at Lake Sidney Lanier.
Lake Lanier is now above the top of conservation lake level and within the storage dedicated to flood control.
Given the long range forecast of a wetter than normal winter/spring, the Corps will maintain the normal winter pool level of 1070 as long as conditions allow.
"To hold the lake above that level could have serious lakeside impacts if wet weather continues and would impact our flood fighting abilities in the basin.
The Corps must be positioned to respond to these conditions in a way that best serves the public and ensures project purposes are met," said E. Patrick Robbins, Public Affairs Officer.
"With Lake Lanier at 1071.5 feet and precipitation expected later in the week, Buford will increase releases to two hours. This will allow us to follow the guide curve to reach 1070 feet, winter pool level, by Dec. 1."
Since Nov. 26, 2007, Buford Dam has only released to meet the downstream flow requirement in the Chattahoochee River at Peachtree Creek and more recently reduced releases to minimize flood damages downstream.
"We have gone from operating in a drought situation to our normal operations for flood control," said Robbins.
"All indications are that the Southeast will be in for a wetter than normal to normal winter weather pattern and it is important that the lakes in the system are prepared to handle the excess water."
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