In Georgia, you will find that most decent sized lakes fall into two categories.  Those controlled by Corps of Engineers and those controlled by Georgia Power.  Waterfront and water use is usually less restrictive on Georgia Power lakes than Corps of Engineer lakes. 

Lake Sinclair is owned and operated by Georgia Power, a Southern Company.  The lake has been in existence since the 1950's.  Until recently, Lake Sinclair has existed with little fanfare.  Times are changing.  Development around this lake is increasing.

Lake Sinclair is located about 90 minutes drive southeast of Atlanta.  The lake was formed by damming the Oconee River.  The lake is large enough to enjoy all types of on-water recreation.  400+ miles of shoreline and over 15,000 acres of surface area.  The lake is sheltered by the heavily forested hills that are found in this part of the state.  This lake enjoys a lot of natural beauty.  There are several scenic islands scattered around the lake.  National forest and waterfowl refuges find their borders on Lake Sinclair.

This lake offers consistent water levels throughout the year and is boatable year-round.  Unlike many of Georgia's better known lakes, Lake Sinclair is drought resistant.  This fact was put to the test in '07 during the worst drought in Georgia's recorded history.  Ask someone living on one of the many large lakes impacted by the '07 drought if consistent water levels are important.

Georgia Power pumps water from Lake Sinclair into Lake Oconee and flows it back into Lake Sinclair, generating electricity during favorable exchange times.  Lake Oconee is just north of Lake Sinclair.  Its on-water property prices are considerably higher than Lake Sinclair because it is more developed and closer to Atlanta.

The effect of the power generation process on the lake is a daily water level fluctuation of about 2 feet.  This fluctuation is only a problem for boaters if they are located in extremely shallow water.  Lake Sinclair's water level fluctuations are considerably less than many lakes in the region.  An active current can sometimes be seen on the main channels of this lake.  The current can run normal and reverse flow depending on what Georgia Power is doing at the time the water is being viewed.  I view the limited water level fluctuations and active water circulation as a key advantage of owning property on Lake Sinclair.

Lake Sinclair is one of the cleanest lakes in Georgia.  There are no eating restrictions on the fish caught out of Lake Sinclair.  Water clarity on Lake Sinclair varies depending on location.  This is a mud, sand & rock bottom lake and is not as clear as rock bottom lakes found in the mountains.  Try to remember clarity does not necessarily mean clean.  Many lakes that have good water clarity are polluted.  Some areas of Lake Sinclair will be stained after heavy rainfalls.  Most areas will clear out within a week or two, but some areas can stay stained for an extended period of time.  If you are sensitive to water clarity, you should work with someone like me so I can steer you towards the lake areas with the best water clarity.  Generally speaking, the clearest water on the lake is located on the southern side closer to the dam.  The best way to judge the water clarity on any lake is to stick your hand in the water when viewing various lake properties. Don't try to judge clarity viewing from a distance or from photos as the appearance can deceive you.  

Send me an email or call me if you have any other questions about the lake.  Lake Sinclair is a very beautiful lake.  There are no alligators in Lake Sinclair, so swim without fear of man eating critters.  Lake Sinclair is just about as far south you can go without getting into alligator habitat.  I've assisted hundreds of people looking for property on Lake Sinclair and a tiny fraction tell me they don't like the lake for one reason or the other.