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140508-A-PP104-066 (14043424830).jpg
U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Lakes → Georgia → Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier

Georgia · Reservoir impounded 1956 · near Gainesville

38,000 acres 160 ft deep 12 ft clarity Water C
Compare
6.0SCORE
Survey summary · Georgia
38,000
Surface acres
160 ft
Max depth
692 mi
Shoreline
12 ft
Typical clarity
1,071 ft
Elevation
140508-A-PP104-066 (14043424830).jpg Baldridge Creek, Lake Lanier, GA July 2018.jpg Browns Bridge, Lake Lanier, GA Oct 2017.jpg

Photographs of Lake Lanier via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Lake Lanier covers 38,000 acres in Georgia and drops to 160 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1956 and managed by USACE. Short-term rental posture: County by county. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • 692 miles of shoreline
  • Boating
  • Fishing

Watch outs

  • USACE shoreline permitting — private dock approval is not guaranteed

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 6.3
Recreation 7.2
Value 3.8
Access 7.3
Investment 5.5

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Striped bassSpotted bassCrappieCatfish

On the water

BoatingFishingSailingBeaches
Live from LAKE SIDNEY LANIER NEAR BUFORD, GA. This is a lake or reservoir station measuring reservoir elevation on this water body — direct sensor readings, not estimates.
23.20 deg C
Temperature
2026-08-04
0.54 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04
10.90 FNU
Turbidity
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs autumn low · Lake Lanier
8 ft FULL POOL AUTUMN LOW

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 8 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

Location

No NHD boundary matched this water body, so the marker shows the mapped centre point.

Depth profile

SURFACE 160 ft max avg 51 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 160 ft, average 51 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown8 ft Drawdown seasonAutumn Trophic stateMesotrophic Typical clarity12 ft Water quality gradeC Elevation1,071 ft Managing authorityUSACE

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityUSACE Mobile District Wake / speed rulesNo-wake within 100ft
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with USACE Mobile District that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

County by county

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$660,000
Median waterfront
$3,741
Per shoreline foot
-1.9%
Year over year
165
Est. inventory
28
Avg days on market
$784
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy49% Booked nights / yr129 Gross revenue$108,402 Net operating income$55,678 Yield on median price8.44%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Lake Lanier actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$5,453
All-in per month
$151,090
Cash to close + setup
$14,000
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$65,431 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $41,729 (65%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $7,260 (11%) Property taxes $6,930 (11%) Hazard insurance $2,772 (4%) Utilities $2,700 (4%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (1%) Dock maintenance $900 (1%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$41,729
Property taxes$6,930
Hazard insurance$2,772
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$7,260
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$65,431
Model your own numbers →

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