The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has introduced a new way of releasing water from Buford Dam to improve oxygen levels in the Chattahoochee River downstream of Lake Lanier.
From about mid-July through November, operators may release water using a combination of turbine flow and an aerated sluice gate, which adds oxygen to the water before it enters the river. The total amount of water released and Lake Lanier water levels will not change.
Studies conducted in 2023 and 2024 showed this approach consistently improved oxygen levels in the river, which is expected to benefit trout, other aquatic life, and the overall river ecosystem along the 35-mile stretch between Buford Dam and Morgan Falls Dam.
The new procedure is the result of five years of research and collaboration among federal and state agencies and conservation partners. Officials will continue monitoring the results to help guide future water management decisions.
(This is an AI-assisted story.)