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Current Lake Conditions
Lake Lanier is currently at 1066.05 ft, which is 4.95 ft below the full pool elevation of 1071 ft. This is about 6.16 ft lower than the recent average for this time of year.
Where This Data Comes From
Water level readings come from the USGS gauge 02334400 (Lake Sidney Lanier at Buford Dam), which records reservoir elevation every 15 minutes. Inflow is calculated from USGS tributary gauges on the Chattahoochee and Chestatee rivers. Outflow and precipitation data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CWMS system, which monitors operations at Buford Dam in real time. All data on this site refreshes automatically every 15 minutes.
Seasonal Patterns
Lake Lanier follows a predictable annual cycle driven by rainfall and Corps of Engineers operations. In late fall and winter (November through February), the Corps gradually lowers the lake to create flood storage capacity, with levels typically dropping to around 1,060–1,065 ft. Spring rains from March through May refill the reservoir, and the target is to reach full pool (1,071 ft) by June 1 for the summer recreation season. Through the summer the Corps aims to hold the lake near full pool, though drought years can cause significant departures. By September the cycle begins again as the Corps prepares for winter inflows. These patterns are visible in the year-over-year chart above.
Understanding Full Pool
Full pool at Lake Lanier is 1,071 feet above mean sea level. This is the congressionally authorized normal operating level set when Buford Dam was completed in 1957. At full pool the lake covers roughly 38,000 acres and holds about 1,050,000 acre-feet of water. The elevation matters for recreation — boat ramps, docks, and marinas are designed around this level. When the lake drops several feet below full pool, some ramps become unusable and docks can sit on dry land. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages water releases at Buford Dam to balance flood control, water supply for metro Atlanta, downstream flow requirements, and hydropower generation.