Chattahoochee might reopen to swim, boat

You might soon be able to swim or boat in the Chattahoochee River after two weeks of “unsafe” conditions, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman said.

On May 30, the Army Corps began releasing water from Buford Dam into the Chattahoochee due to high water levels on Lake Lanier. Those releases made the river unsafe, with dangerous currents and a risk of high levels of bacteria.

The releases were planned to last twoweeks, until today. They will continue butwill be reduced on the weekends, said Chuck Walker, an Army Corps spokesman. The agency will also be “trying to do the majority of releases at night ,” Walker said, lessening impact on the river’s recreation potential.

“Barring any weather events, the plan is to reduce releases,” Walker said. “People should be able to go out onto the river, but they need to use caution.”

Those who wish to swim, boat or do other recreational activities in the river should call the Army Corps’ Lake Lanier offiffice before heading out in order to determine if it’s safe, Walker said. Life jackets should always be worn in the river for safety purposes.

The Lake Lanier office can be reached at 770-945-9531.

BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM Asign June 4 at Powers Island boat launch warns of Chattahoochee River conditions, now improving.