HALL COUNTY, GA — A major project to protect Lake Lanier’s shoreline from erosion is expanding, with leaders celebrating the completion of another mile of shoreline reinforcement.
The Lake Lanier Association says the effort, nicknamed “Project Armor,” focuses on installing “rip-rap” rocks and a stabilizing sheet in some of the lake’s most vulnerable areas, including island shorelines battered by boat traffic and severe weather.
Executive Director Victoria Clevenger says they have been working on erosion prevention for more than a decade, and the latest phase concentrated on 16 high-priority locations, adding up to a mile of protection.
“In total, the Lake Lanier Association has preserved three miles of shoreline,” Clevenger said. “From a storage capacity standpoint, it’s important for those of us that drink the water and it’s important for those of us that use the lake recreationally.”
She says erosion can make the water more shallow, which could impact boaters and shrink the lake’s capacity as a key drinking water source for metro Atlanta. Lake Lanier is a major reservoir on the Chattahoochee River, the primary supplier of tap water across the region.
The milestone comes as the lake remains low after recent drought conditions. It is currently about six and a half feet below full pool, one of its lowest levels in the past five years, though still well above the historic lows during the 2007 drought.
Clevenger says more phases of Project Armor are planned, continuing their mission to protect both the beauty of Lake Lanier and the lifeline it provides to millions of Georgians.
WSB Radio’s Jennifer Perry contributed to this story.
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