Article by Chris Lovelady, US Army Corps of Engineers

In 2004 the Corps finalized an updated Lake Lanier Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Shoreline Management Plan (SMP).  At the Lake Lanier Association’s invitation, I will be addressing specific elements of the revised SMP in Lanier Outlook.

We receive many calls at the Corps office about community docks.  As you probably know, the new SMP limits the total amount of docks permitted for Lake Lanier to 10,615.  This was determined by the Private Boat Dock Carrying Capacity Study in the EIS and SMP, which established the maximum number of docks that Lake Lanier can environmentally support.  Last year a total of 8,593 dock permits existed for individual docks on the lake.  To promote sound stewardship of the lake, the SMP requires community docks for new residential developments.   The Corps must approve each community dock development plan.

These community docks are not marinas.  They do provide the same number of slips which would have been installed had individual dock permits been issued.  In addition to preserving the shoreline’s environment, these docks allow more people access to the lake using a shared facility instead of an individual private dock.  In many locations, neighborhoods have club houses or similar facilities near these docks offering neighbors social opportunities.  Community boat dock slips will be calculated against the total at a ratio of two slips equals one permit.

In 2004, the US Army Corps of Engineers published a new Environmental Impact Statement and Shoreline Management Plan outlining their policies.  The following Corps articles from Lakeside News are reprinted here with the kind permission of Lakeside Publishing.