Dock installation deadline at Hartwell Lake
Release No: 09-36
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAVANNAH, Ga.– Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Project office instituted a Jan. 1, 2010, deadline for installation of newly permitted docks on the lake that could not be installed during the recent drought. Permit holders facing this deadline who do not install their docks by Jan. 1, 2010, will lose the boat dock portion of the permit.
“We’re reminding property owners who have dock permits but have not installed them of the upcoming deadline,” said Virgil Hobbs, Hartwell project manager. ”We urge permit holders to take advantage of the near-normal water levels to have their docks installed.” With the recent rainfall, drought conditions have lessened and the reservoir has mostly recovered.
Dock permits issued under previous Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) had no installation deadline. The most current SMP (2007), implemented in June 2006, requires docks to be installed within one year of issuance. Permits issued under the 2007 SMP that are past the one-year installation deadline are subject to the Jan. 1, 2010 deadline. The Savannah District commander suspended the deadline for the installation of these docks due to drought-related, low lake elevations. With the current deeper water, Corps officials encourage owners to proceed to avoid a backlog of installations at the end of the year, Hobbs said.
Hobbs explained the two alternatives if an owner misses the deadline and forfeits the dock permit.
o The property owner may re-apply after six months but must pay a new $400 application fee. Neighbors may apply and receive a dock permit during the 6-month waiting period. This may prevent the original permit holder from receiving a new permit. Under the current SMP docks must be separated by at least 50 feet. For current permit requirements, see the 2007 Hartwell Lake Shoreline Management Plan online at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/hsmp.htm .
o Alternately, if owners fail to meet the Jan. 1 deadline they risk losing the permit permanently. If the property does not meet the current permit issuing requirements, and the boat dock portion of the permit is cancelled, the lot will no longer qualify for a boat dock.
“In this instance, the only way to insure the boat dock portion of your permit remains valid is to install the approved dock before the deadline,” Hobbs said, “and any application for modification to an existing Shoreline Use Permit is contingent upon the property meeting the 2007 Hartwell Shoreline Management Plan permit criteria.”
For more information, contact Park Ranger Sandy Campbell at the Hartwell Project Office toll free at (888) 893-0678, ext. 315.
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