More Water For Drought-Starved Lanier

LAKE LANIER, Ga. -- Some encouraging news for businesses and homeowners on drought starved Lake Lanier-- a new decision by the federal government will mean more water for the lake, and less for endangered mussels on the Florida coast.

But some on Lake Lanier wonder if it will be enough.

There are a lot of places where one can walk as opposed to swim. The lake is now 13 feet below normal, and it will likely continue to drop through the summer. A lot of people who live and work there say they like what they hear about the new drought plan -- they just wish it had come about a long time ago.

Clay Brock is throwing out his bait, hoping he can hook some good news. The past year has been rough at his bait and tackle shop along anemic Lake Lanier. Low water levels seem to discourage many boaters and fishermen.

Sales at the bait shop were off -- some times as much as 75 percent. This summer is not off to a great start.

"We just went through what should have been a great opening weekend," Brock said. "And our business was off almost 65 to 70 percent from this year as opposed to last year. People were coming through, but not in numbers that were near normal."

There is nothing normal about Georgia's drought. Add to that, millions of gallons of water taken from Lake Lanier every day by the Army Corps of Engineers, sent to reservoirs downstream, and to endangered mussels in the Florida panhandle.

Now, a new drought management plan -- US Fish and Wildlife officials have determined those mussels can get by with less water -- meaning Lanier can get more in stream flow.

Dave Vogelpohl wishes the decision had come earlier, when there were more than a few inches of water under his dock.

"Had they done that last year, we'd probably have had 10 more feet of water this year than we have," Vogelpohl said.

At Clay Brock's bait shop --

"The glass is half-full, not half-empty," Brock said.

His lake may not be full, but he is casting his line on the bright side.

According to the Corps of Engineers, the lake could drop another two to seven feet over the course of the summer, depending on how much it rains.