Search for Lake Lanier Drowning Victim Scaled Back

As of today (Aug. 23) the search for 44-year-old Jeffrey Nause, , has been scaled back, according to authorities.

Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have reduced resources devoted to the search operation for Nause, a press release stated from the HCSO.

Surface and sonar searches will continue today and Friday, but dive operations will be on stand-by pending the results of those searches. Hall County divers will be in the area conducting training and certification updates for the next two days; in the event that the surface searches produce a target of interest, they will be available to investigate further.

Dive operations will be suspended for the weekend due to heavy boat traffic, but surface/sonar searches will continue through Sunday.

Continuation of the operation will be reassessed prior to Monday, Aug. 27.

The search, now in its sixth day, covered in excess of 20 square acres, with depths ranging from 70 to 130 feet. Water temperatures at depth have been about 42 degrees.

In addition to HCSO divers, the search has utilized sonar equipment, cadaver dogs, and aviation assets.

Heavy underwater timber in some areas also complicated the search effort. Compounding the physical difficulties of the search are the facts that the incident occurred during the hours of darkness, the vessel was moving at the time, and there was no GPS equipment on board to mark an exact location.

Agencies involved in the search include , Georgia DNR (law enforcement and aviation divisions), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 29, Hall County Fire Services, and Dawson County EMS (cadaver dogs).

The incident remains under investigation by Georgia DNR and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigation Division.

Stay with Cumming Patch for updates.