The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to resume normal water control operations at Lake Lanier today.


Lanier is now above the top of its conservation level and within the storage dedicated to flood control, officials said.


And given the long-range forecast of a wetter-than-normal winter and spring, the corps plans to maintain the normal winter pool level of 1,070 feet above sea level 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,” said E. Patrick Robbins, corps spokesman.


“The corps must be positioned to respond to these conditions in a way that best serves the public and ensures project purposes are met.”


Lanier is now at 1,071.53 feet, having surpassed the full pool of 1,071 feet on Wednesday for the first time since September 2005.


“With precipitation expected later in the week, Buford (Dam) will increase releases to two hours starting today and continuing thereafter,” Robbins said. “This will allow us to follow the guide curve to reach 1,070 feet by Dec. 1.”


Since Nov. 26, 2007, Buford Dam has only released to meet downstream flow requirements in the Chattahoochee River at Peachtree Creek, and, in September, it reduced releases to minimize flood damages downstream.


“We have gone from operating in a drought situation to our normal operations for flood control,” Robbins said. “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.”