MACON, Ga. — Workers at Lake Tobesofkee tell us when the water reaches a certain level at the dam, it signals that water needs to be released.
To avoid another flood like almost 30 years ago, workers got to work so people's lake properties were not damaged.
When the rain came through, which filled up the lake, they had to open gates to prevent flooding. When the gates open, the water flows down Turkey Creek into the Ocmulgee River.
All the debris gets stuck on the front side of the gate and they have to clean it up.
Jonathan Hill works for Macon-Bibb County as a senior utility worker. He says he's seen a flood like this just once before.
"Back in '94, we had a flood. It did terrible damage. It did the same thing. Water has got to go somewhere. It comes from the North and it comes through here and keeps going. You can never predict nature," Hill said.
People come to the lake to swim, eat at the Fish N' Pig, and camp. Workers say they're doing what they can to keep it clean and safe.
Donald Bracewell is the director for Lake Tobesofkee and he says it's a priority to let the rainwater out and clean up the debris.
"I have to be careful in both ways. I cannot let it up so high but I have to let it up high enough to let the water flowing where it won't damage peoples docks," Bracewell said.
Across from the sandy beach is the dam and it's where all the magic happens. The lake level has to be between 359.85 and 360. Anything above that, the water has to go somewhere.
What's left is quite a mess.
Hill says the last time there was a major flood at the lake was in 1994. He says they're working to make sure it doesn't happen again. They're hearing from lake neighbors who have flooding concerns.
"The public, the people that live out here on the lake, they're always concerned about their property, and when anything jeopardizes that," Hill said.
What's left now is the debris left from the water released and Bracewell says it will take about a week to clean it out.