Take caution when boating, fishing south of Buford Dam

GAINESVILLE - Twice on Sunday, authorities were called to the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam to rescue boaters who had become trapped in rising water, apparently after a release from the Dam. In one instance, a Lawrenceville man drowned when his boat capsized.

Lisa Coughlan with the Army Corps of Engineers said water releases quickly change the landscape of the river for almost 3 miles south of the dam.

"During a water release right there at the dam, currents become strong, [especially] around submerged rocks and jagged trees," said Coghlan. "And, these conditions exist, as I mentioned, for 2.7 miles downstream."

A guest on WDUN's The Local Hour, Coughlan noted that warning sirens sound for 10 minutes at 30-second intervals before water is released. Plus, she said there are signs posted along the 2.7 mile stretch warning of water releases.

Boaters and fisherman are mandated to wear U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices if they are on the water in that 2.7 miles of river south of Buford Dam.

At this point, investigators have not concluded that the incidents Sunday can be directly blamed on water releases from Buford Dam.