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COE column
 Partnership with Lanier Striper Club benefits lake community
By
Chris Lovelady, Assistant Operations Project Manager
Community partnerships are important, and we at the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers truly appreciate when organizations and
individuals help us accomplish our mission of good environmental
stewardship.
The Lake Lanier Striper Club is one of those such
organizations, working with the Corps on several issues over the
years. Recent accomplishments include the replacement of fishing
equipment at our catfish pond, where the club also assists us with
special fishing outings for youngsters throughout the year.
This past fall and winter, the club has undertaken
routine maintenance of our courtesy docks lake wide. Recently I was
honored to attend the annual Lanier Striper Club meeting and present
awards to eight individuals who were involved in the dock repair
program. (See separate story >>>.)
The work accomplished by the club represents much
more than the value of the services these individuals provided. Our
dock facilities, although important, tend to be infrequently
addressed by Corps staff because of more pressing needs lake wide.
However, because so many of our visitors use these facilities, their
upkeep and replacement bears a very positive impact all year long.
As Laniers water level has dropped during recent
months, the majority of courtesy docks in our parks have become
unusable. The Clubs work to relocate the courtesy dock at Balus
Creek, one of the busiest boat ramps on the lake, has been
significant. More than 120,000 visitors come to Balus Creek each
year; the park is a popular site for fishing tournaments and is
known as a great middle-of-the-lake access point.
The courtesy dock was sitting on dry ground during
the months of October and November, so the club reached out to local
company Marine Specialties, Inc. to help move the dock and provide
water access. Relocation of the dock was completed in early
December.
Now, visitors to Balus Creek Park will find that the
courtesy dock has been placed on the water just to the left of the
boat ramp, making it convenient for boaters to load and unload their
boats. Stepping stones have also been placed on the ground making
the access from ramp to the dock walkway an easy task.
The Corps greatly appreciates the willingness of the
Lanier Striper Club and other organizations and individuals to
invest their resources into the recreation areas on Lanier. We look
forward to a continued relationship with them and we hope to hear
from more people who want to participate in various programs to
benefit the lake.
Contact the Corps at its Buford Dam Project
Management office at 770-945-9531 for volunteer opportunities.
For more information, contact the Corps Buford
Project Management office at 770-945-9531 or visit:
http://lanier.sam.usace.army.mil/.
Whos who at the Buford Dam Project
Management Office
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