The Lake Lanier Association (LLA) has completed a third phase of the ongoing shoreline protection initiative, Project Armor. This latest phase of the program reinforces a mile of Lanier’s shoreline with rip rap in 16 vulnerable areas experiencing severe erosion due to heavy boat traffic, according to LLA officials.
LLA NEWS RELEASE:
“The LLA spearheads the only initiative to save and protect the islands (which) dot the middle of Lake Lanier, and they are considered cherished and irreplaceable assets by those who live on and visit the lake. They provide opportunities for wildlife habitat, beaches and coves for recreation, fishing spots and general enjoyment on Lake Lanier.
There are some areas on the lake where the entire island has disappeared as a result of constant erosion. As more and more of the shoreline erodes and falls into the lake, these areas between the islands become shallower and less usable for safe recreation. The rip rap assists in dissipating wave energy heading back in the opposite direction towards the lake. The loss of these islands is not only a loss for recreation but also for storage capacity as the sediment added to the lake reduces the storage capacity for drinking water that over 5 million Georgians rely on.
“Many selected areas are islands where there is a very high concentration of boat traffic with noticeable erosion. One such high traffic area is the convergence of the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers. Another location is a small island affectionately called by some as ‘Cuba’. Without the armoring of that island, it surely would have disappeared into the lake in the near future,” said Skip Short, LLA Director and Project Armor Coordinator. “Lake Lanier gets over 12 million visitors a year, which means a lot of wave action, so our job is not done. We continue to monitor and identify areas that need protection.”
This shoreline protection project was made possible by the members of the Lake Lanier Association and in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Marine Specialties, Martin Marietta, Simpson’s Trucking and Grading, Gwinnett Water Resources, Forsyth County and Hall County.”
(LLA photo)