Every five years, Georgia Power lowers the water level of Lake Sinclair through a procedure called a “drawdown,” giving property owners the rare opportunity to repair, replace, or upgrade shoreline structures that are normally underwater or hard to reach.
That time is returning Oct. 25, when the lake’s water level will begin to drop about five feet by Nov. 2, weather permitting. The refill process will begin Dec. 1, giving residents approximately four weeks to complete shoreline projects before the water level returns to normal.
Georgia Power Lake Resources Manager Britt Davis for Lakes Oconee and Sinclair encourages Lake Sinclair residents to plan ahead to make the most of this short maintenance window. However, he added, the company is federally regulated, and the shoreline permitting process is part of its license to operate hydroelectric projects, so nearly all shoreline work — from major construction to simple repairs — requires a work permit, available free from Georgia Power.
“Whether it’s seawalls, docks, boathouses, boat lifts — all of it requires a permit,” Davis stated. “We don’t charge for the permit, but we have to have plans, we will go out and inspect, and we have to give our approval for everything to be on our property and on our lake.”
The requirement extends even to relatively minor projects, like adding a bench to a dock or replacing rotted support beams.
“We like to know everything that’s going on out there on our property, mainly for the protection of the property owner,” Davis said. “Because if you build something that’s not in compliance with our guidelines, we are going to ask you to remove it or bring it into compliance. Maintenance and new construction, and rebuilds, require permits, so maintenance falls into that category.”
Davis emphasized, however, that the process is designed to be simple and collaborative, not bureaucratic or burdensome.
“I’ve gotten minor plans on the back of napkins submitted before,” he said. “If you call me and say, ‘We’re going to put new deck boards on top of our existing dock,’ I’m going to ask what type of material you’re going to use; we’ll talk about it; and that becomes the record. It’s actually a very simple process.”
Georgia Power will work directly with contractors on a homeowner’s behalf, too, a convenience particularly helpful for part-time residents.
However, he added, “ultimately, the property owner is responsible if something was built out of compliance and needs to be fixed, but we will work directly with a contractor.”
Permits typically remain valid for 90 days but can be extended if projects take longer than expected. Each project will be inspected after completion to ensure it meets approved specifications, Davis added.
The company’s permitting rules also help protect the natural environment and maintain the lake’s character, Davis said. For example, he said that constructing beaches is strictly prohibited.
“Our goal is to have the lake’s shoreline looking as natural as possible,” he explained. “This is the Piedmont region of Georgia, red clay and pine trees; it’s not a coastal area, and we want to maintain that natural look.”
Violating the permitting requirements can have consequences, though Georgia Power’s approach is usually to work with property owners rather than penalize them.
“We’re not out there hunting, trying to find something wrong,” Davis insisted. “We’re trying to keep everybody in compliance so we can say that we comply. If something is out of line with our guidelines, we may require it to be brought into compliance — or even removed. The best thing to do is just to call us first.”
With more than a dozen managed lakes across Georgia, Georgia Power applies the same shoreline management standards statewide, Davis stressed, in order to ensure consistency for property owners no matter where they are. He suggested lakefront property owners with projects in mind should visit Georgia Power’s Lake Oconee and Sinclair Facebook page.
“There’s a lot of good information there,” he said.
“We know everybody’s got a huge investment in their property out there,” Davis said. “We want them to be able to enjoy it and have what they want. We’re just here to make sure it’s done the right way, for them and us.”
The email address for information or to submit plans is g2ocoslo@southernco.com, and Davis’ office number is 770-542-9981.