Lake Lanier, named for Georgia poet and musician Sidney Lanier, was created through the construction of Buford Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which broke ground in 1950. The dam was intended to control flooding, generate hydroelectric power, provide drinking water for Atlanta’s growing population, and create recreational opportunities for the five counties along the lake’s shoreline. After the dam was completed in 1955, water gradually filled the lakebed, covering vacant homes, farms, and forests and creating habitat for fish. Through careful planning and resource management, the lake serves as the county’s main source of drinking water and as a place for boating, fishing, swimming, and other recreation. Lake Lanier also has a major economic impact, with annual visitor spending totaling over half a billion dollars and providing important tax revenue, while conservation efforts since 2001 have helped reduce per person water consumption so future generations can continue to use this resource.