Article by Chris Lovelady, Chief Ranger

Aside from requests for dock permits, the Corps of Engineers frequently receives requests to remove siltation from Lake Lanier by property owners adjacent to public lands. According to our 2004 Shoreline Management Plan, silt removal is permitted, as long as certain conditions are met.

It’s the Law

First, let’s look at a couple of ways that siltation can be reduced.

Siltation occurs because of upstream construction, storm-water run-off, wave action against the shoreline, alteration of the natural plant materials on public lands, and natural erosion. While many of our area governments are diligent in requiring the proper installation of silt fencing on construction sites, as you can see, this is only one cause of the infiltration of silt into the lake.

Wave action from boats is a major cause of shoreline erosion. Georgia law requires that boats within 100 feet of the shoreline travel at idle speeds in certain conditions. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ website, these conditions include: Docks; shoreline adjacent to a full- or part-time residence; piers or bridges; public park or beach or a swimming area; marinas, restaurants or other public use areas.

Visit http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us and click on Boating for the full text of the law. The DNR has increased its ticketing of boaters violating this law, which is not only designed for safety, but also to help preserve the lake’s shorelines.

Use of Rip-Rap, Natural Plantings

Part of the process when the Corps of Engineers permits docks is inspecting the shoreline. Property owners can do a great deal to help reduce erosion through the proper installation and maintenance of their docks.

At this time, installing other shoreline protections is not part of the dock permitting process. However, we encourage property owners to consider installing rip-rap as an environmentally sound practice to extend the shoreline protection and reduce erosion.

Properly installed rip-rap can keep the shoreline in place against natural and man-made waves.

Additionally, keeping the natural vegetation in place on public lands and even enhancing it with approved native plants will also reduce erosion and siltation. Not disturbing the layers of leaves that fall each autumn also provides a natural defense against run off. Water breaks along footpaths can also help. Mowing and bush-hogging on public lands is strictly prohibited unless authorized by permit.

Dredging and Silt Removal

Dredging and silt removal is permitted and a process has been established. Property owners should first contact the Corps of Engineers for complete guidelines, but basically, we require a “near survey” quality plan for removal that includes the quantity of the silt to be removed, the depth of the silt bed, and drawings of cross sections of the current and final slope

Silt removal cannot be authorized to excavate original soils and rock. Only sedimentation may be removed. Permits to remove silt will not authorize the altering of the original contour, drainage pattern, or wetlands, nor removal of one foot or less of silt deposit. Silt removal will not be authorized if access to the shoreline requires destruction of the sites; however, access by water is an option. The plan must describe the method in which excavated material is to be removed and the location where the silt will be relocated.

The removal of silt can be costly. Sometimes it’s a better approach to work from a prevention standpoint and we urge property owners along the shorelines of Lake Lanier to investigate installing rip-rap and planting natural vegetation to help preserve the lake for future generations.

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.