Lake Drawdown

Lake Blackshear is lowered below the normal full pool level for about six weeks every other year to aid in the control of nuisance vegetation in the Lake and to give homeowners an opportunity to work on piers and seawalls. This occurs during the months of November and December. Unless it is extremely dry, the lake usually refills by Christmas. The level of the lake is lowered about 3.5 to 4 feet below normal during these periods. A secondary benefit of this drawdown is some additional aquatic weed control.

The next scheduled drawdown will begin on November 1, 2024. The Lake will gradually be drawn down approximately 3 ½ to 4 feet below normal full pool. Absent any unusual rain events the lake will remain at that level for approximately 6 weeks. Refilling the reservoir to normal full pool is scheduled to begin on December 15, 2024. The amount of time required to reach normal full pool will depend on flows in the Flint River.

Homeowners are reminded that any work on piers, boathouses, or existing seawalls requires approval and a permit from the Power Commission as a requirement of its Shoreline Management Policy. Anyone wishing to do such work is asked to contact the Commission’s Resource Manager, Troy Gilliam, at 229-273-3811.

Homeowners wanting to perform maintenance on an existing seawall or construct a new seawall must contact the Resource Manager to obtain a permit. To build a new seawall the first step is to determine if there is wrested vegetation as defined by the State Environmental Protection Division. This is a state requirement. The Resource Manager will contact local County authorities or EPD as appropriate to achieve this determination. Homeowners should be aware the State EPD process may take several months.