Lake Lanier to get boost

The Army Corps of Engineers decided Friday to hold more water in the Lake Lanier. The Corps determined sending less water downstream did not significantly impact the environment. The decision could mean a one foot rise for the reservoir. Lake Lanier supplies Atlanta with most of its water.

Lanier at record lowest seasonal level

Lake Lanier. Click on the map for a full-sized image. (Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Hurricane Ike and other recent storms that've swept the region didn't leave as much water behind in Lake Lanier as water officials had hoped. In fact, it's the lowest Lanier has even been for this time of year.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials says that while tropical storm Fay did bring up the level to just over 1055 feet, that's still 17 feet below normal full pool - 1,071 feet.

In addition, officials say they’re expecting a dry winter.

Click here for more GPB News ongoing drought coverage.

Corps cuts Lanier water releases

Starting today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will cut-back on water releases out of Lake Lanier. While not as much as state officials would like, the amount might still add up to 65-million gallons of water a day saved. The Corps since December has released only enough water downstream from Lanier to satisfy metro Atlanta’s drinking needs and the minimum flow required by the state. In a statement from the state’s Enviromental Protection Division Director, Carol Couch says she appreciates the Corps’ evaluation of her request to cut releases through April 30th.

Rain helps Allatoonta, not Lanier

Recent rainfall and winter precipitation of the past few weeks has been good for one north Georgia lake, but not so for another.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says Lake Allatoona is now slightly above its normal 'winter pool'level. Rob Holland with the Corps says it is a smaller reservoir, so it's easier to refill.

On the other hand, Holland says recent rainfall has not appeared to have found Lake Lanier.

"It has not benefitted from the rain--it seems like the rain goes around it. And it has a relatively small drainage basin that feeds it, so it's going to take a heck of a lot of rain to refill it".

Holland does say the Corps has been able to keep water releases from Lanier to the minimum required, as rainfall has helped downstream.

Feds to Fix Tybee Island Erosion

The federal government is slated to spend more than $6.3 million dollars to fix erosion on Tybee Island beaches.

The damage was caused primarily by the dredging.in the nearly Savannah River shipping channel that leads into the city's harbor.

The Savannah harbor is one of the largest in the country, and few argue that the Army Corps of Engineers should suddenly stop clearing the channel that guides container ships to port. But critics say the domino-effect spending, which is ultimately directed by Congress, shows the dangers of trying to battle forces of nature.

The money to restore Tybee's beaches was in a massive spending bill that Congress sent to President Bush last week.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Tybee Island and Savannah.

(The Associated Press)