Boating at Allatoona Lake, Georgia

[yjanray]

Has anyone been able to get out on Lake Allatoona in NE Georgia since the recent floods? I tired to go to one of the 2 or 3 open ramps last weekend, and it was still flooded. You could not get to the dock to get on the boat after you launched it. Seems very dangerous to be boating on a lake that is 'flooded' any thoughts or experiences?

 

[DavidW2009]

Re: Boating at Allatoona Lake, Georgia

According to:

http://lakelevelalert.com/lakes.php

Allatoona is about 3 feet below summer level, and 23 feet below full pool.

While heading South on I-75 from Chatanooga late this afternoon, I saw 6 boats (not together) heading north. Probably were out on Allatoona. So it may not be too bad.

I exited before Allatoona, so didn't see what it looked like.

 

[dsstephens]

Re: Boating at Allatoona Lake, Georgia

Full summer pool is about 840, and flood level is 860. by this time of year, it's normally pushing down to about 825, but it is quite a bit higher than that right now. Best lake level gauge for Allatoona is the COE one.
http://water.sam.usace.army.mil/actmain.htm

most of the winter ramps are open, as can be checked here (it's normally spot on) http://allatoona.sam.usace.army.mil/Allatoona recreation/beachrampstatus.htm

We've been out a few times, as have many others, since the "big one", and debris is less of a problem now. Only in some of the narrower S turns on the north east end of the lake did we encounter significant debris and that was weeks ago. it moves off to the side pretty quickly, but always a good idea to watch out.

boat's all tucked in for the winter now, but looking forward to March!

 

[drewpster]

Re: Boating at Allatoona Lake, Georgia

Its been years since I have been on Allatoona. I really like the Stamp Creek area around Wilderness Camp. My brother kept his house boat there for many years. I remember the lake being narrow and long with many coves. I spent my first honeymoon there on my brothers boat. Me and my first wife were broke and my brother offered his Somerset house boat to us for a week. We had a blast puttering around that lake. I have been a few times since then. I can remember awhile back there being a huge controversy about the lake levels being so low. Georgia was screaming about there water shortages and the lake residences were losing value like crazy. I bet with all the rain we have been having this year that has changed. I hope it has. They kept it so low most of the docks in the area were well in shore.
In fact I blame Allatoona for my boating obsession now. One good dock with that big old house boat and I was sold! I even got better at parking that thing than my brother at one point.
In fact if you saw a naked couple on top of a Somerset back in the early 1990's it was likely me and my wife. ah memories.......