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Officials
concerned about idea of using gravel to extend ramps
By Pamela A. Keene
A proposal before the Hall County Board of
Commissioners to extend boat ramps at Lake Lanier using gravel and
inmate labor may not be practical over the long term. Doug Aiken of
the Hall County Taxpayer Association suggested the idea before the
commission as a way to open Bolding Mill and Thompson Bridge Park
ramps.
This past spring, several area businesses and
citizens joined together to work with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to extend ramps in various locations around Lanier.
The Corps assessed the ramps that could most easily
be extended due to water levels, shoreline conditions and the like,
and brought together a group of lake business people to form a
partnership to see that the work was done. The groups, including one
headed by Candy Hammond of Hammond’s Fishing in Forsyth County to
extend the ramp at Charleston Park, and others succeeded in raising
funds to extend four other launch ramps around the lake – East Bank,
Clarks Bridge, Van Pugh North and Balus Park.
“The Corps and these folks worked together to select
ramps that were best located to serve the most boaters on Lake
Lanier,” said Chris Lovelady, chief ranger with the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers at Lanier. “Many factors were considered as these ramps
were selected, including the feasibility of the locations due to
existing slopes beyond the end of the ramps, the presence of
dangerous drop offs and the expenses necessary to make these
extensions.”
Each of the ramps, except for the ramps at Clarks
Bridge, was extended using concrete poured into forms; the ground
was properly prepared in advance to assure longevity in the use of
the ramps and safety for boaters.
“Gravel alone does not provide a stable platform for
launching boats,” he said. “For one, vehicles pulling boats and
trailers can lose traction. Secondly, the soil beyond the existing
ramp must be hard pan and free of silt to accept improvements. Also,
curbs should be added to protect boaters from accidentally backing
off the sides of the ramp.”
Gravel alone could have a tendency to sink into the
lake bottom or shift, making the ramps unsafe for launches; boaters
could easily get stuck in the gravel beyond the poured concrete
ramps.
“While it’s an excellent idea to extend more ramps to
continue good access to the lake, practicalities and safety must be
considered,” Lovelady said. “We are very willing to talk with groups
who are interested in extending various ramps and have proposals. We
want people to have access to the lake, but safety must be a prime
consideration.”
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