North vs South At Lake Oconee

North vs South At Lake Oconee

Newcomers to Lake Oconee will soon learn that there are preferred areas by property owners that get acclimated to the lake area. Of course, there are the gated golf course communities vs the non-gated communities. And, there are 3 different counties to choose from: Greene/Putnam/Morgan Counties. But, another choice is the North end of Lake Oconee  and the South end of Lake Oconee. Some people will say "You don't want to buy property above the I-20 bridge, because it's shallow water up there!" The truth is there is shallow water on the South as well as the North end, it just depends upon the area. The Apalachee River and Oconee River feed water into Lake Oconee  from the North, which brings silt into the lake making it more stained. But, as you go farther South, the water gets clearer as you get closer to the dam. The creeks off the main lake will be less stained, because the water coming down the main lake bypasses these creeks - Sugar Creek and Lick Creek. And, as you go down the lake, and then up the "Richland" side of the lake, you will see much clearer water, since this area is totally bypassed by the waters coming from the North. This "Richland" side is where the Ritz-Carlton Lodge is located.

So, which area would you prefer to be located? Well, it depends upon what you are looking for? The North end is closest to Atlanta, I-20, and Athens. This is great for commuters to weekend homes, or people who want to live at the lake and be closer to work in these areas. The North end also has much less boating traffic, so it is very peaceful, especially on weekends. Most areas will offer more privacy for property owners. These areas are closer to major shopping areas in Madison, Athens, Conyers, Atlanta, or Augusta.

Some people prefer the South end of the lake, which is generally below the I-20 bridge. It could be because they like the clearer water, being closer to the central area of the lake where most restaurants and stores such as Publix are located, or because they want to be closer to the golf communities. Some of the areas closest to the dam on the South end of Greene or Putnam Counties provide the clearest water, but are also the farthest from stores, restaurants, golf courses, and hospitals. There is a considerable amount more boating traffic in the central area of the lake and South of it.

Fishing is great throughout all of Lake Oconee.

If you are searching for property at Lake Oconee, and would like help finding that perfect property, please contact me to let me help you with my 23 years of experience.

You can begin your search on my website at http://alankent.kwrealty.com/