Now that Lake Lanier’s water level has risen to full pool, local business owners hope the number of customers will go up, too.

A large part of Hall County’s economy is tied to the lake. The many marinas, stores and restaurants rely on visitors to Lanier to support their businesses.

Now that the lake is full, many believe business will be booming.

The 1071 Coalition, a nonprofit group advocating better long-term management of Lake Lanier, is conducting an economic impact study of the lake.

Alex Laidlaw, president of the 1071 Coalition and vice president of WestTrec Marinas, said the study will validate what many business owners have experienced anecdotally over the last few years: When the lake goes down, so do profits.

"Really what we’re trying to get to is what is the economic impact at different levels?" Laidlaw said. "That spread should be pretty significant."

Businesses in the counties surrounding Lake Lanier are being asked to fill out an online survey for the study, which is being conducted by The Bleakly Advisory Group. The group expects the study to be complete by early 2010.

Laidlaw said he lost 15 percent of the net operating income at his marinas over the last few years.

"This lake has really developed an economic engine in and of itself in this part of the country over the last 25 years. When it goes down like it did, these businesses have a hard time surviving," Laidlaw said. "It’s not nearly as pretty; it’s not nearly as safe."

Laidlaw said the full lake not only boosted the local economy but people’s moods.

"We had a much better year than we did last year," he said.

Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said a full Lake Lanier has helped give a sunnier outlook to the many economic issues people are facing.

"People’s, I think, just whole attitude has changed with the lake," Dunlap said. "When you have a wonderful, gorgeous, pretty lake you go across several times a day ... I think that adds to the quality of life."

Dunlap said the aesthetic of a full lake will not only help existing businesses but help draw future economic development to the area.

Kathleen Collins, a realtor and associate broker at Elite Property Group with Keller Williams, said having the lake at full pool again will give a boost to the real estate market, especially lake front properties.

"It gives buyers and sellers more confidence," she said. "It’s raised everybody’s spirits."

Collins said it was more difficult for people to sell their homes when the lake was down.

"It’s not attractive. It doesn’t put its best foot forward," Collins said. "It’s a much harder sell."

The Northeast Georgia region was caught both in a drought and a recession over the past few years.

Home values dropped, foreclosures took over neighborhoods and houses were difficult to sell regardless of how low the price dropped.

Lake homes were hit from both angles — not only did they suffer the damage from a slumping real estate market but from the affect of a dry lake bed on the appearance of their property.

Collins said she thinks a full Lake Lanier may now help stabilize property values.

"I think we’re seeing some positive results," Collins said. "More people are thinking about putting their lake homes on the market."