ALLATOONA, Ga. — Most people in metro Atlanta are familiar with the rise and fall of the water level of Lake Lanier, but what many do not realize is that there is a second lake that rises and falls just as much -- if not more than Lanier does.
Lake Allatoona is a reservoir that was formed by the construction of the Allatoona Dam in the late 1940s along the Etowah River. The dam is maintained and controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The lake's full pool level is at 840 feet above sea level -- well below Lake Lanier's full pool level of 1,071 feet.
In addition to providing recreation and hydropower generation for residents in parts of Cherokee, Bartow and Cobb counties, Lake Allatoona also provides drinking water for much of all three counties.
As a result of the region's recent heavy rainfall and accompanying runoff, Allatoona has run significantly above its full pool level in recent days. Last Friday, February 21, Lake Allatoona hit its second-highest level ever, officially recorded at 851.46 feet.
The lake's highest level was 861.19 feet, which it hit on April 9, 1964.
Releases from Allatoona Dam since then have dropped the lake's level until it reached 850.03 feet by Monday.
While the lake's basin above the dam covers about 1,100 square miles -- nearly as much area as Lake Lanier, Allatoona is smaller than Lake Lanier, which allows it to fill and drain more rapidly than the larger lake during times of drought and flood.
According to 11Alive meteorologist Samantha Mohr, with normal seasonal rainfall amounts expected over the upcoming weeks, officials are anticipating that Lake Allatoona will return to its winter full pool level within the next three to four weeks.
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