Discover the Newest Lake in All of Georgia

Georgia is a unique state. It’s full of wilderness, woods, and water. With all these areas to explore, you may be wondering what parts of Georgia are worth seeing. Georgia has some gorgeous lakes, like its largest lake, Lake Lanier. One lake in the state was built in the 21st century, making it the most recent lake to open. Wondering which one it is? Keep reading to learn all about the state’s newest lake.

The newest lake in Georgia is Bear Creek Reservoir. 

When Did Bear Creek Reservoir Open?

Bear Creek Reservoir was built and dedicated in 2002, making it the most recent lake to be created in the state. The reservoir itself takes up 505 acres and is impounded by a 90-foot-wide dam. It has a storage volume of five billion gallons of water and the water in the reservoir is used by multiple municipalities. The water treatment plant treats around 21 million gallons per day to create safe drinking water for Barrow, Jackson, and Oconee Counties. Clarke County also pulls water from the reservoir, but they take it untreated for processing at their own facility. 

Where Is Bear Creek Reservoir?

The boat ramp and park area for Bear Creek Reservoir is just outside Athens, which is around two hours east of Atlanta. You can get to the reservoir via Highway 330 in Jackson County. 

How Can You Explore The Reservoir?

Beyond being a source of drinking water for the surrounding areas, Bear Creek Reservoir is also a place to go fishing or be on the water. It wasn’t always like this, as the first seven years that the reservoir was open did not have a public boat ramp. As of August 2009, boaters have been able to enjoy cruising and fishing on the lake via a ramp.

While the ramp has made Bear Creek easier to access, there are still some important things to know when it comes to exploring the reservoir. First, diesel and gas engines are prohibited. Only trolling motors are allowed on the lake. Any watercraft must be 20 feet or less to launch from the ramp. The ramp is only open during certain days of the week and at specific times. If you plan on using the Bear Creek Boat Ramp, keep in mind that you will have to pay an access fee for each person in your party. There are yearly passes available as well.

Unfortunately, Bear Creek Reservoir prohibits swimming, diving, and scuba diving. Besides fishing, there’s not much to do on the lake besides trolling or paddling around.

Fishing Bear Creek Reservoir

The good thing about Bear Creek Reservoir is that there are plenty of fish to catch. The Department of Natural Resources stocked the reservoir with hybrid bass since it first opened in 2002. Many anglers were able to catch the bass from the shoreline before watercraft were allowed on the lake. However, being able to launch from the ramp gave anglers access to the deepest part of the lake, which is around 70 feet deep.

Present day, you can expect to see rainbow trout, bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie in the lake. Fishing is allowed from sunrise to sunset on the public bank. Anglers will need an active Georgia Fishing License to fish the reservoir. 

Wildlife Around The Area

There is plenty of wildlife around Bear Creek Reservoir to keep animal lovers entertained for hours. Overall, the bird watching is incredible. You can expect to see waterfowl like wood ducks, American pipits, and hooded mergansers. There are a few great places to observe the wildlife. The dam on Savage Road is a great spot to overlook where you’ll see sparrows and pipits during the winter and yellowthroats in the summer. Right past this location is Old Savage Road, which runs along the back bays of the reservoir. Another lookout area is a fishing pull-off and parking spot off Route 330. Bird-watching is so great in this area because it’s directly in the center of many birds’ migration patterns.

Besides these spots, you can also look for wildlife while you’re out on the reservoir or at the public boat ramp. There is plenty to do to stay entertained while you’re at the newest lake in Georgia. You may not be able to go swimming or do water sports, but you can take the boat for a cruise or cast a line.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © John_Brueske/iStock via Getty Images