Water levels on Lake Lanier will likely continue to drop, and more boat ramps will continue to close.

As of Monday, the elevation of the lake was 1,063.57 feet above sea level. Full pool is 1,071 feet.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects the levels to continue to drop, possibly one more foot by the beginning of August.

“The lake level is expected to continue a slow decline without significant rain,” said E. Patrick Robbins, spokesman for the corps’ Mobile district, which operates Lanier. “The entire basin is experiencing very low inflows without rain, so conditions won’t get any better until we get rain.”

Robbins said the corps is releasing only the minimum required to keep the downstream system moving.

But with lower levels come more headaches for boaters looking to get on the lake.

The corps operates 104 boat ramp lanes on Lanier. Currently, 13 parks have at least one lane closed — around 13 percent of Lanier’s ramps — according to the corps’ online ramp elevation calculator.

The corps determines lanes are “not usable” when the end of the ramp is in less than three feet of water.

Ramps with more than three-and-a-half feet of water are ideal.

Tim Rainey, corps operations manager for Lanier, said some boats can launch in less than three feet of water, but many would be damaged if they tried.

“We err on the side of caution because some of the bigger boats may scrape if they try to launch in three feet of water,” said Rainey.

Ramps at Simpson Park, Robinson Park, Van Pugh Park and Bald Ridge Marina, among others, have been closed.

“As always, as the levels recede, we urge boaters to pay attention and be aware and watch for underwater hazards,” said Rainey.

Hall County Parks and Leisure operates three ramps, including those at Laurel Park and Clarks Bridge Park.

Mike Little, the parks director, said those ramps will not close anytime soon.

“We’re not at that point yet,” he said. “All of our ramps are still open.”

And, he added, that’s essential for the county.

“We’ve got a lot of recreational boat users, as well as fishermen,” said Little. “The economic impact of people coming into town to spend a day at the lake buying gas and buying food — all that is important for us to keep (the ramps) open and keep the visitors coming.”

Laurel Park and Clarks Bridge Park ramps were extended a few years back when lake levels were at an all-time low.

In 2010, lake levels were around 1,070 feet above sea level at the start of July. Last year they hovered around 1,067.5 feet. In 2007, as of July 9, the lake was 1,055.8 feet above sea level.

More than 1,800 personal docks are unusable because of the water level.

Over the next 10 days, weather in the area is supposed to be cooler with a chance of constant rain. Highs range from 81 degrees to 88 degrees, and each day brings a 40 to 60 percent chance of rain.

The online ramp elevation calculator can be accessed here.