Shoreline Management Plan Survey

The SMP is the official document the Corps follows in many of its operations on Lake Lanier. It contains the rules that govern whether you can have a dock, what size and configuration and placement you must adhere to for that dock, and many of the details about how you must maintain the dock. But it goes way beyond that – it also governs what you can and can’t do to the shoreline itself, such as whether you can install steps to your dock, what types of shrubberies you’re allowed to plant, whether you can remove standing or fallen trees from the Corps land adjacent to your property, and what penalties the Corps can impose if you violate those rules (like revoking your dock permit for cutting down trees on Corps property without a permit).

Until now, those of us who are regulated by the SMP have had little or no input into the rules. Well, LLA is going to change that. We have solicited your input and are working to share a comprehensive report of recommended changes to the Corps. We plan to advocate for those changes, now and in the coming years, – because getting the U. S. Army to change its rules is rarely accomplished just by asking politely.

The survey accepted feedback all throughout the summer of 2025 in an online system that facilitated our tabulating all the suggestions and counting how many people are in favor of each. And yes, only LLA members were able to submit their input.