The ban on permits for new boat docks will continue at Lake Lanier for the time being, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today.

The corps says permits won't be granted until the lake's water level rises and remains at 1,064 feet above sea level for a length of time.

As of 10:15 a.m., Lanier was at 1,063.56 feet, still about eight feet below full pool but up 11 feet since the first of the year.

The ban on dock permits was put in place in August 2007 at the start of the current drought when lake levels began dropping.

"While the lake level has risen significantly recently and it appears might temporarily reach the 1,064 level, which would normally trigger the acceptance of applications, we have decided to extend the moratorium," said E. Patrick Robbins, Chief of Public Affairs for the corps' Mobile District, which manages Lanier.

"The moratorium will remain in place until the lake level remains at 1,064 or is rising above 1,064 for 30 consecutive days, and the five-week forecast shows the level or rise is sustainable."

The low water action plan uses 1,064 feet as the cutoff level based on where a proposed boat dock would sit on the lake in relation to existing docks and the shoreline.