LAKE LEVEL UPDATE
Written by Clyde Morris, Director
Published on December 10th, 2025
The LLA has received many inquiries from members alarmed about recent water levels, and would like to provide some salient information that should be helpful.
We are aware of the lake level and have been in communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about it. The Corps has assured us that they are discharging only the minimum amount of water required to meet the Corps’ hydropower commitment for Buford Dam, municipal water supply intakes downstream of Buford Dam, and water quality requirements further downstream requiring a minimum of 650 cfs.
The average daily discharge from Buford Dam in December to date has been 1035 cfs, and only 934 cfs in the last week.
Lake Lanier is within its normal range for this time of year. The rainy season begins in December. If you look at the historical data using the link below, you will see that the lake typically begins refilling around this time. Additionally, the Corps’ rules governing downstream support for other recognized purposes allow the Corps to store more of Lanier’s available water from December until March, when the Gulf sturgeon spawning season begins.
Please use this link to view historical lake level data.
