Buying Lake Front Property and Homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia
North Georgia is blessed with an abundance of clean water that originates from springs in the hills and mountains surrounding the valleys. TVA and the US Army Corps of Engineers operate dams on these streams for electric power generation, flood control and recreation.
Lake Blue Ridge
The construction of Blue Ridge Dam was begun in 1925 and completed in 1930. Lake Blue Ridge Reservoir is on the Toccoa River in north Georgia, stretching 11 miles southeast from the dam. The river flows northwest into Tennessee, where it is re-named the Ocoee River. The Ocoee River is the site of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Kayaking event. The lake is located just two miles East of Blue Ridge, GA.
Blue Ridge Reservoir is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest of north Georgia. The lake is noted for it's clear water and unspoiled shoreline. Over 80% of the shoreline is controlled by TVA. There is a scenic overlook above the dam and a shaded picnic area near the powerhouse. The canoe and kayak launch site below the dam gives non-motorized boaters access to the Toccoa River.
Blue Ridge Lake and the Toccoa River are noted among fishermen for sunfish, trout, and bass. When water is released from the Blue Ridge Dam to generate electricity, the river becomes a class I-II float through the North Georgia hills. In recent years TVA has taken measures to improve the tail-water dissolved oxygen content in an effort to promote insect growth, thereby improving the overall trout fishery.
Fueled by scarcity and strong demand property, prices on Lake Blue Ridge has risen steadily over the past decade. Starting prices for lake homes are in the high $600,000's.
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Carter's Lake
Completed in 1977 and managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Carters Lake embraces a spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia. Its sparkling waters and rugged shoreline provide a beautiful surrounding for a variety of recreational opportunities which include camping, fishing, picnicking, boating, mountain biking and hunting. The United States Government owns a minimum of 300 feet from the water's edge at all locations on the lake and an average of 100 feet on the re-regulation pool. This land is for general public use, and adjacent landowners have no special privileges. Carter's Lake is very convenient to nearby Ellijay, GA .
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Lake Nottely
Construction of Nottely Dam began in 1941 and was completed in 1942. Lake Nottely Reservoir lies in the state of Georgia on the southeastern edge of the Tennessee River watershed, nestled in the mountains and valleys of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The reservoir features a beach and camping area and is a great place for viewing wildlife. Lake Nottely is fed by the waters of the Nottely River which rises in the National Forest South of Blairsville, GA. Starting prices for lake homes are in the mid to high $300,000's.
Top of pageThere is no private shoreline property on Carter's Lake. Limited property exists with views of Carter's Lake. An unusual feature below Carter's Dam is the re-regulation pool, a smaller lake formed by damming Talking Rock Creek and the out flow of the Coosawattee River from the dam. Water from the smaller basin is pumped back into Carter's Lake during periods of lower demand for re-use in periods of peak demand.