Forsyth County, Georgia, says it has more than 200 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline, yet the county does not run the lake. This is who does what on the Forsyth side, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the county as we checked them on Oct. 19, 2026.
The short answer
- The Corps of Engineers built the lake in the 1950s and still manages it.
- Forsyth County lists 9 lake parks. It has run Mary Alice Park since 2023 under a lease with the Corps and the City of Cumming.
- County ramp parking: $10 a day or $60 a year.
- Private docks need a Corps Shoreline Use Permit, and only owners next to public land zoned limited development can apply.
Who runs Lake Lanier?
The Corps. Lake Sidney Lanier was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s and is still managed by the Corps, per its Mobile District. The lake serves flood control, hydropower, water supply, navigation and recreation. It has more than 690 miles of shoreline and 76 recreation areas in all.
Forsyth County holds a large share of that shore. The county says it has more than 200 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline, on its About page, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia puts about 30 percent of the lake’s shoreline in the county. By Census Bureau measurements, about 22.6 of the county’s roughly 247 square miles are water.
Which lake parks does the county run?
Forsyth County lists 9 lake parks among its 37 county parks, along with 2 river parks and 3 campgrounds. For boat launching, the county names Mary Alice Park, Charleston Park and Vann’s Tavern Park among its lake parks. Vann’s Tavern Park, at 9300 Vanns Tavern Road, carries a Gainesville, GA 30506 mailing address even though the county lists it as one of its own parks, per the county’s park pages.
County parks are run by Forsyth County Parks & Recreation, which is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). Its main line is (770) 781-2215.
Why does the county run a park on the Corps’ lake?
Under a lease. Mary Alice Park, at 1820 Mary Alice Park Road, Cumming, has a Lake Lanier boat ramp, a sand swimming beach and a picnic pavilion. Forsyth County has run it since 2023 under a lease with the Corps of Engineers and the City of Cumming, per the county. The county lists one courtesy dock, and the ramps are open 24 hours but may close when the park reaches capacity.
Ramp parking costs $10 a day or $60 a year. One November note: the county lists Mary Alice Park as closed Nov. 10-12, 2026, and the evening of Nov. 9, for a Corps of Engineers deer hunt. Check the park page before a trip that week.
Which parks belong to the Corps?
The Corps counts 76 recreation areas on the whole lake. We have not yet verified which of them sit on the Forsyth side or which ones the Corps runs itself, so this guide does not list them, and it does not give Corps fees or hours. For a Corps-run area, the Corps’ Lake Sidney Lanier pages are the place to check. We will add the Forsyth list once it is verified.
What is full pool, and how high and low has the lake been?
Full pool is 1,071 feet above mean sea level. The record high was 1,077.2 feet in April 1964, and the record low was 1,050.79 feet in December 2007, per the Corps. That is a range of more than 26 feet. Levels move with rainfall and downstream water needs, and the Corps posts current levels online. When you read about water depth at a dock, ask what the lake level was that day.
The lake is also where the county gets its water. Forsyth County has relied on a Lake Lanier intake owned by the City of Cumming and is building its own intake, tunnel, pump station and transmission main, estimated at $188 million and expected to be finished in 2031, per the county’s project page.
Can I put a private dock on my lakefront lot?
Only with a Corps of Engineers Shoreline Use Permit, and not on every lot. Only owners next to public land zoned limited development can apply, per the Corps permit program. Permits last up to five years and do not transfer. The Corps caps the number of permits and keeps a wait list when none are available.
That makes the permit a question to settle before you buy, not after. If a home already has a dock, ask the seller for the permit, and ask the Corps what a new owner needs, since permits do not transfer. For docks, riprap and other shoreline permits, call the Lake Lanier Shoreline Management Help Desk at 770-904-3262. First-time applicants for a new dock must meet a ranger on site, the Corps says.
Where should I start?
For a day on the water, start with a county lake park and our park matcher. For living near the lake, our Lake Lanier page covers the shoreline, lake levels and permits, and the parks page lists the rest of the county’s parks. If you are moving, the where to live page explains how the county’s areas are laid out.
- Lake Sidney Lanier was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s and is still managed by the Corps. It has more than 690 miles of shoreline and 76 recreation areas, and it serves flood control, hydropower, water supply, navigation and recreation. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District: Lake Sidney Lanier
- Lake Lanier's full level is 1,071 feet above mean sea level. The record high was 1,077.2 feet in April 1964 and the record low was 1,050.79 feet in December 2007. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Sidney Lanier Frequently Asked Questions
- Private docks on Lake Lanier need a Corps of Engineers Shoreline Use Permit. Only owners next to public land zoned limited development can apply, permits last up to five years and do not transfer, and the Corps caps the number of permits, with a wait list when none are available. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Lanier Shoreline Management Permit Program
- Mary Alice Park, at 1820 Mary Alice Park Road, Cumming, has a Lake Lanier boat ramp, a sand swimming beach and a picnic pavilion. Forsyth County has run it since 2023 under a lease with the Corps of Engineers and the City of Cumming. Ramp parking costs $10 a day or $60 a year. Forsyth County: Mary Alice Park
Questions
Is Lake Lanier in Forsyth County?
Yes, in part. Forsyth County says it has more than 200 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline, and the New Georgia Encyclopedia puts about 30 percent of the lake's shoreline in the county. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built and still manages the lake, which has more than 690 miles of shoreline in total.
What is full pool on Lake Lanier?
Full pool on Lake Lanier is 1,071 feet above mean sea level. The Corps of Engineers says the lake hit a record high of 1,077.2 feet in April 1964 and a record low of 1,050.79 feet in December 2007. Levels move with rainfall and downstream water needs; the Corps posts current levels online.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Sidney Lanier FAQs
Can I build a private dock on Lake Lanier?
Only with a Corps of Engineers Shoreline Use Permit. You must own property next to public land zoned limited development, and first-time applicants meet a ranger on site. Permits last up to five years and do not transfer. The Corps limits the total number of permits and keeps a wait list. Call the Shoreline Help Desk at 770-904-3262.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Lake Lanier Shoreline Management
Where can I launch a boat on Lake Lanier in Forsyth County?
County lake parks include Mary Alice Park (1820 Mary Alice Park Road, Cumming), with a boat ramp, beach and pavilion, plus Charleston Park and Vann's Tavern Park. County ramp parking costs $10 a day or $60 a year. Mary Alice Park is closed Nov. 10-12, 2026 (and the evening of Nov. 9) for a Corps of Engineers deer hunt.
Written by the Forsyth County Living Editorial Team. AI tools help us draft; people check every fact before it publishes.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: Forsyth County Government
