Situated in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions, Lake Lanier and its tributaries are the primary drinking water source for millions of people in North Georgia, including most Atlantans. Fed by the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers, the 38,000-acre surface area reservoir was built in 1956 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for hydroelectric power generation and flood control. In recent years, Lake Lanier has become the most frequently visited Corps of Engineers reservoir in the country and received international attention as the site of the rowing and canoeing venue for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Water resource issues such as contaminated runoff, rapid development, drinking water supply, public health and wildlife protection, and levels of wastewater discharges have demanded increased attention from area residents, businesses and governments. In 1994, representatives from local governments and interest groups came together and formed the Upper Chattahoochee Basin Group (UCBG) to advise local and state authorities on water resource management issues as they relate to Lake Lanier and the surrounding area. The UCBG’s ultimate goal is to develop tools and the information necessary to protect water quality and to promote the efficient use of resources in the face of growing demands. The UCBG initiated a study of the lake and its watershed to fulfill this goal. A project team, consisting of Limno-Tech, Brown and Caldwell, and Katz & Associates, was tasked with conducting the study and creating appropriate watershed management tools.