Article by Chris Lovelady, Chief Ranger

One of the purposes of the new Shoreline Management plan is to assure the protection of Lake Lanier's Shorelines and the public lands adjacent to the lake. In this month's column, we'll address some of the issues related to underbrushing, vegetation and reforestation on public lands, offering a guidelines for property owners along the lake. Note that the topics covered here are offered as information; to be certain you're working within the new plan, please contact the Corps of Engineers before proceeding.

The Shoreline Management Plan allows for some plantings of native vegetation. It also permits the limited removal of understory, certain species of plants that remain short when mature, along pathways.

Erosion Control and Mowing

Controlling erosion along the shores of Lake Lanier is vital to the lake's life. Boat wakes, rainwater run-off and other forces can abrade the shoreline, causing sedimentation and possibly affecting habitats. Erosion-control methods, such as planting of native vegetation or placing water breaks along footpaths to reduce rainwater runoff velocity, may be authorized. Permits for shoreline protection (rip-rap) as addressed by Section 10 of the River and Harbors Act, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and authorized by a Specified Acts Permits are available at the Operations Manager’s Office.

Mowing and general lawn care of public land is not permitted. Currently, there are areas on public land where the adjacent landowner has maintained grassy areas in a lawn-like condition. These open areas generally evolved from agricultural practices that removed tree cover prior to land acquisition by the government or from tree loss due to fires, diseases or other causes since impoundment of the lake. Under the guidelines of the Shoreline Management Plan, adjacent landowners may continue maintaining these existing grassy areas only if a Shoreline Use Permit/License has been issued to authorize the activity. To obtain a permit for this activity, please contact the corps.

Because grass does not provide a diverse high-quality vegetative buffer, it is project policy to restore grassed mowing areas to a more natural state when not maintained. Once permitted areas are not maintained and woody vegetation has reestablished itself, this portion of a permit will not be renewed.

During changes of ownership, the corps will encourage minimization of permitted mowed areas to help protect the lake's water quality, aesthetics and wildlife habitat. Adjacent landowners have the greatest impact and opportunity to protect or restore the lakes vegetative buffer.

Footpaths and Buffers

Authorized footpaths six feet wide may also be maintained by mowing and limited underbrushing. Site visits by a ranger are required for approval.

Vegetative buffers serve many important functions in protecting water resources. By stabilizing the stream banks and shorelines with native vegetation, erosion and sedimentation rates will be reduced. Increased sediment loads may also result in the physical destruction of habitats, such as the smothering of bottom communities and spawning beds.

Vegetative buffers also protect water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient and contaminant loading from activities occurring in the surrounding watershed. Vegetation intercepts and filters overland water flow before it enters the lake. Pollutants and sediment transported may be partially removed as a result of a combination of processes, including reducing the flow pattern and flow speed, settling and depositing particles and allowing nutrient uptake by plants along the shoreline.

In addition, the vegetation provides stream bank/shoreline stabilization to the water body. The roots of vegetation anchor shoreline sediments and protect the shoreline from erosion caused by water movement.

Everyone Can Help

Our new Shoreline Management Plan has been developed over many months of study and research. Designed to help maintain the life and quality of Lake Lanier and its shoreline, the plan's implementation is the responsibility of each of us working together. By becoming familiar with the plan, and understanding the rationale behind it, each property owner and all those who use the lake can help preserve this most valuable natural resource for generations to come.

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.