Jackson Lake Right Now
Jackson Lake's water level has been rising over the past week. Watershed conditions are in severe drought. Today's forecast calls for sunny.
- 7-day level change
- Up 0.32 feet
- Forecast high
- 82°F
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Overview
Jackson Lake is a 4,750-acre reservoir about 45 miles southeast of Atlanta, spread across Butts, Jasper, and Newton counties in central Georgia. One of the oldest reservoirs in the state, it was created when Lloyd Shoals Dam was completed in 1911 and has been operated by Georgia Power since 1928 for hydroelectric generation. The lake forms at the confluence of the South, Yellow, and Alcovy rivers, which combine below the dam to form the Ocmulgee River.
Jackson has about 135 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth near 94 feet, with three long river arms and numerous coves reaching back into wooded hills. Its mature shoreline is heavily developed with lake homes and docks, and after spillway gates were modernized in 2012, Georgia Power has been able to hold the pool steadier without the large annual drawdowns of earlier decades.
The lake is a longtime favorite for largemouth and spotted bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, as well as boating and water sports, with fisheries managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Georgia Power's Lloyd Shoals Park, boat ramps, and private marinas provide public access to the reservoir.
Water levels on Jackson Lake are managed by Georgia Power around a normal full pool of 530 feet on the project's plant datum. Elevations respond to rainfall across the upper Ocmulgee basin and to hydro generation at Lloyd Shoals Dam, so monitoring current lake levels is helpful for boating, dock access, and shoreline activities throughout the year.
Jackson Lake is a 4,750-acre reservoir on the South managed by Georgia Power.