An easing of drought conditions has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to resume normal downstream releases of water previously held in reservoirs during the drought.

The changes won’t affect water releases from Lake Lanier at this time, the corps said.

The procedure change stems from provisions of a revised interim operating plan for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system that allow slightly less water to be released at Woodruff Dam on the Apalachicola River near the Florida border.

Lake advocates, as well as the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, had requested the reduced flow in order to keep a bit more water in Georgia.

"Initially, there will be minimal impacts within the basin," E. Patrick Robbins, public affairs officer for the corps’ Mobile district, said in a statement released today.

"Due to the lower lakes being near full summer levels, we should be able to meet downstream needs with normal basin inflow for the foreseeable future," Robbins said.

"Releases from Lake Lanier will continue to be just for water quality and water supply requirements at this time."

As of Monday evening, Lake Lanier was at 1,066.12 feet above sea level. Full pool is 1,071 feet.