History of Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier’s Best Kept Boating Secrets is our newest member to the Boating Secrets family! With every first edition, we always include a brief history of the lake. Read below for some interesting information (and fun facts!) about Lake ‘Sidney’ Lanier! You can also check out the ebook here!
History of Lake ‘Sidney’ Lanier
According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, in 2019 Lake Sidney Lanier had 12.1 Million visitors. This makes it one of the most visited Corps projects in the United States. Lake Sidney Lanier is a man made reservoir which was named after 19th century poet Sidney Clopton Lanier. Lake Lanier was authorized by congress in 1946 and was placed in full operation in 1957. The Buford Dam impounds the waters of the Chattahoochee River to create Lake Lanier.
It was built to serve the purposes of flood control, drinking water supply, power production, recreation, fish and wildlife management and navigation in the basin. Lake Lanier is managed as part of a larger system of dams within the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint basin. This basin extends south along the Georgia and Alabama borders and into Florida. Lake Lanier is known for its fishing and recreation opportunities. The 1996 Olympic rowing and sprint canoe/kayak competition was hosted at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue on the northern end of the lake. (courtesy of Lake Lanier Association)
Construction of Lake Lanier
Construction for Lake Lanier officially began on March 1, 1950. In the seven years of it being built, it involved numerous amounts of construction: Three saddle dikes, excavation of deep gorges for the intake and powerhouse facilities, Buford Dam, bridges, highways, access roads and utility building. Private companies constructed the lake while it was overseen by TheCorps of Engineers. On February 1, 1956, Buford Dam was closed for the first time. It would be two and a half years until Lake Lanier was fully formed. It reached ‘full pool’ on August 1st, 1958. Dedication day was held in October 1957.
Did You Know? Quick Facts about Lake Lanier
Miles of Shoreline: 692
Miles Long: 26
Feet Deep: 200+ (at the dam)
Acres: 39,000+
Million Gallons of Water: 65
Parks & Recreation: 68
Campsites: 1,200
Full Winter Pool is 1070’ above sea level.
Full Summer Pool is 1071’
To make room for the lake, the Government moved 250 families, 20 cemeteries, 15 businesses and 6 churches