What 1066.23 ft means

What each level means

Approximate by design — anchored to published thresholds (ramp minimums, full pool, spillway, records) but every cove is different.

1. Top of flood poolabove 1,085 ft

   Above 1,085 ft the flood pool is exhausted and gated spillway operations at Buford Dam are in play. Never reached; the 1964 record was 1,077.2 ft.

2. In flood storage1,071–1,085 ft

   Above full pool the Corps is storing floodwater; expect higher releases, debris, and closed low-lying park areas.

3. Near full1,066–1,071 ftnow · 1066.23 ft

   Docks, marinas, and ramps in good shape. Full (summer) pool is 1,071 ft.

4. First pinch points1,060–1,066 ft

   Shallow coves and some dock slips start feeling it; a few park ramps get marginal.

5. Widespread low-water impact1,055–1,060 ft

   Many coves unusable, numerous ramps closed, marinas relocating slips — familiar territory from 2007–08.

6. Extreme drawdownbelow 1,055 ft

   Approaching the record: 1,050.79 ft on Dec. 26, 2007, when much of the lake's recreation infrastructure was out of the water.