Name:   Craig - Subject:   Lake Allatoona volume drop Date:   10/1/2021 2:26:30 AM

Allatoona is operated by the Corps of engineers as primarily a flood control lake for the Etowah/Coosa rivers. They purposely drop the lake level 17 feet every Autumn to "allow sufficient capacity for spring floods". Why they need that much of a drawdown I dont know but in the early 60's winter pool was below 820. The COE raised it to 823 in the early 70s'. The other purposes of the lake are hydro power, drinking water, and recreation. Full pool is only allowed for about 5 months of the year. If they waited until the end of November to draw the water down it would extend the season and be much safer for people using the lake. The people who really have it bad are at the very Southern end of the lake in Cobb county where it goes completely dry at 832 elevation.