Recent rains have helped to replenish the water level at Lake Lanier, a main drinking water source and recreation area for metro Atlantans.

The Times of Gainesville reports that Lake Lanier's water level is the highest it has been since early November.

Authorities say the lake had been dropping by nearly a foot and a half every two weeks.

It had dropped to 1,057.91 feet above sea level on Nov. 14, the lowest it had been since March 2009, during a drought that had started in 2007.

But the rains have helped to reverse the lake's downward course.

Lanier's water level Monday was 1,059.22 feet — still nearly 11 feet below the winter full pool of 1,070 feet.

Tags: Lake Lanier, rain, water levels