Lake
Oconee is a Creek Indian word meaning “great waters”.
Lake Oconee is known for a water level that remains constant
even during mild droughts and it is the second largest lake in
Georgia .
The total shoreline at full pool is measured at approximately
376 miles. Lake Oconee is the second largest lake located
entirely in Georgia, with over 19,050 acres. Depths of up to
100 feet can be seen close to the dam, but the average depth is
approximately 21 feet.
Lake Oconee was built in 1980 when Georgia Power Company
completed the Wallace Dam.
Georgia Power completed the dam to form Lake Oconee in 1979 and
is filled by the Oconee and Appalachia Rivers. The water in
Lake Oconee is recycled from Lake Sinclair to produce
electricity.
For generations, people have recognized the restorative power
of the waters of Lake Oconee. More than a century ago, the
Creek Indians lived beside a river they called Okoni or "The
Great Water." Today those waters form a magnificent lake,
renowned for its natural beauty and superb recreation. The
lake is not used for flood, drought, or water control. This
unique operation in combination with the lake's long, narrow
shape produces noticeable water current throughout the lake
during power generation and pumpback.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources cove
rotenone samples, there is a standing crop estimated at 355
pound of fish per acre. That is 2˝ time more than any other
lake in the southeast. Because the lake is a young
impoundment, it is still peaking in number of fish per acre.
It is considered by fishermen to be the "hottest" and one of
the most fertile lakes in the state.
Lake Oconee is also known for being a hot spot for Great
Golfing Communities.
Lake Oconee runs through Morgan, Greene, Hancock, and Putnam
counties.
