The agency’s Mobile District began drought operations on Nov. 2 across the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river basin, a sprawling watershed that includes Lake Lanier, West Point Lake and Walter F. George Lake. Officials said streamflows have dropped below normal levels, with record-low readings at multiple locations.

Lake Lanier’s water level remains below the median elevation for this time of year, according to the Army Corps. West Point Lake and Walter F. George Lake are also experiencing record-low inflows because of a lack of rainfall.

The drought has been developing across the Southeast since around July 2025, the agency said.

With reservoir levels lower than usual, the Army Corps is asking people visiting federal reservoirs to wear life jackets and to watch for underwater obstructions that may not normally be visible. Lower water can expose stumps, rocks and other hazards that are typically submerged and out of sight.

The short-term forecast calls for normal to below-normal rainfall, offering little relief in the coming weeks. Longer-range forecasts show an increased chance of normal rainfall during the winter months. A potentially historic El Niño event could bring more precipitation to the region, but officials caution that it does not guarantee wetter conditions.

The warning comes as drought conditions continue across much of the Southeast, straining water resources and altering recreation on popular lakes. For communities around Lake Lanier, the lower water levels are a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to extended dry spells and the importance of heeding safety guidance on the water.