US Army Corps of Engineers ® Nashville District Lake Casts

Spring/Summer 2014 Edition

OLD HICKORY LAKE SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE The Old Hickory Lake Resource Manager’s Office Staff held two meetings, January 14th at Gallatin High School and January 16th at Mt. Juliet High School, for public input on the Shoreline Management Plan Update. The meetings had a good turnout at around 50 stakeholders at each meeting. The objectives of this plan are to balance the use of public land with the protection and restoration of the natural environmental conditions of Old Hickory Lake. The Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan is reviewed for update every 5 years.

Before, during, and after the Shoreline Management Plan update meetings, we received 135 separate requests for allocation changes and 148 general comments and questions regarding our operations here at Old Hickory Lake. The Draft Plan of the Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan is available online at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/OldHickoryLake.asp.

All of the comments have been gathered and are now in the process of being evaluated individually. The evaluation for allocation changes have several different criteria for determining if an area can be opened for docks. A few examples are: How close are the areas to recreation areas, campgrounds, or group camps? How close are the areas to a launching ramp? How close are the areas to a marina or dry storage facility? Are the areas virtually identical in appearance and land form to areas now open for docks and are located where there are high concentrations of docks in the immediate vicinity? What are the site conditions and environmental impacts to natural vegetation and wildlife habitat? Are the areas uniquely scenic/adversely impacted by permitting private dock facilities? Will docks in these areas impede present or future navigation requirements?

In addition to these criteria for determining if an area would be a good candidate for allocation change, we also look at our current requirements for permitting docks and if they can be met in these areas. They are as follows: Permits will only be issued in Limited Development areas allocated for private docks. Each application is considered according to location, amount of lake frontage, pool fluctuation, shoreline characteristics, water depth (the dock must be able to float at normal pool elevation 445 m.s.l.) and impact on public use. There must be a minimum of 65 feet of Directly above: Resource Manager, Crystal allocated shoreline (at water’s edge) per lot. Private property must Tingle, speaks to those gathered at the Gallatin directly adjoin public property (not separated by a public road or Meeting on 14 January 2014.

driveway, public right-of-way, leased property, or subdivision common area). Private property must qualify for a residential building permit. All docks must maintain at least 50 feet spacing between docks.

After all of the comments and questions are evaluated individually, the plan is sent through several of our support offices within the Nashville District and then forwarded to the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division for approval. Once the plan has been approved, it will Lake, in the District Office, J. Lake, be posted on our website. and Old Hickory Lake. Tommy has been with the Old Hickory Staff for 13 years. Tommy is one of the two team leaders to the ranger staff. He also

oversees the Shoreline Management program, Conservation projects, Contract administration, the Volunteer program, public meetings and workshops, our nature and archery trails, wildlife food plots and fish attractors, and our Operational

Management and Recreation Plans.

Above: Ranger Kathryn Wall and Moderator Tadd Potter Environmental Protection take comments from one of six groups. Specialist – Charlie Leath Charlie Leath attended the Anyone that has provided us with their mailing University of at address or email address concerning the Shoreline Martin in Martin, TN where Management Plan update will receive notification he received a Bachelor of that the questions and comments, along with our Science in Natural Resources responses, and the updated plan have been finalized Management with a and are available on our website. concentration in Parks and Recreation. Charlie has been We appreciate all of the comments and questions with the Corps for 14 years. He has worked at we received from the public. Public participation is Cheatham Lake, Lake Ouachita, and Old Hickory the key to helping us meet our goals and make Lake. Charlie has been with the Old Hickory Staff positive changes and improvements to the Old for 3 years. He oversees our major outgrants such as Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan. If you marinas, project Safety program and OSHA would like more information, you may contact the requirements, Emergency Management program, Old Hickory Lake Resource Manager’s Office at Sustainability program, Cultural Resources (615) 822-4846 or 847-2395. program, Water Safety program, media outreach, sign and buoy program, and Recreation program. Charlie is also one of the two team leaders to the MEET THE RANGERS ranger staff.

The Old Hickory Lake ranger staffing may vary Area 1 (Briley Parkway from time to time due to the many opportunities Bridge below the Dam to the available for career advancement. The ranger for end of Indian Lake in your area may have changed. Please take a minute Hendersonville) - John Baird to read a little about the rangers. If you have any John Baird attended the questions, please contact the Resource Manager’s University of Tennessee at Office at (615) 822-4846 or (615) 847-2395. Martin in Martin, TN where he received a Bachelor of Science Biologist – in Wildlife Biology. John has Tommy Mason worked with the Corps for 16 years; serving at Tommy Mason attended the Lake, J. , and Old University of Tennessee at Hickory Lake, and has been deployed several times Martin in Martin, TN where to assist our Emergency Management Office in he received a Bachelor of State of Emergency Situations. He has been with Science in Natural the Old Hickory Staff for 7 years. John oversees our Resources Management with a concentration in Real Estate program, Special Events/Special Event Parks and Recreation. Tommy has been with the Permits, Citation program, and Boundary Line Corps for 17 years. He has served at Center Hill program. Area 2 (Bayshore Court to has been with the Corps for 7 years, in which he has Foxland Subdivision in served at Dale Hollow Lake, Lake Cumberland, and Gallatin) - Courtney Eason Old Hickory Lake. Allen has been with the Old Courtney Eason attended Hickory Staff for 5 years. Allen oversees the Tennessee State University Visitation program, wildlife food plots and fish where she received a attractors, nature and archery trails, and the Bachelor of Science in Volunteer program. Agricultural Sciences. Courtney has worked for the Area 5 (Hwy 109 Bridge to Corps for 4 years, where she has served at Old Trails End Subdivision / Hickory Lake. Courtney oversees our fire safety at Lindsley Bend) – the project, the Life Jacket Loaner Boards and Amy Redmond bulletin boards, Environmental Awareness Day, and Amy Redmond attended Iowa Recycling program. State University in Ames, IA, where she received a Area 3 (Foxland Subdivision to Bachelor of Science in the 109 Bridge) - Noel Smith Animal Ecology with an Noel Smith attended Austin emphasis in Wildlife. Amy Peay State University where he has worked for the Corps for 9 years, in which she received a Bachelor of Science has served at Saylorville Lake, Lake Cumberland, in Biology. Noel has worked for and Old Hickory Lake. She has been with the Old the Corps for 7 years, in which Hickory Staff for 5 years. Amy oversees our tour he has served at Center Hill programs, news releases, website information, Lake, Lake Cumberland, and fishing information, Interpretive Services program, Old Hickory Lake. He has been with the Old Earth Day, and National Public Lands Day. Hickory Staff for 3 ½ years. Noel oversees our Water Safety training for the staff, our Boating Area 6 (Trails End program, and buoy information. Subdivision to Briley Parkway Bridge below the Area 3A (109 Bridge to Dam) - Kathryn Wall the Smith County Line) – Kathryn Wall attended the Trey Church University of Tennessee at Trey Church attended Martin in Martin, TN where State she received a Bachelor of University where he Science in Natural received a Bachelor of Resources Management Science in Agribusiness. with a concentration in Wildlife Biology with an Trey has worked with the emphasis on Fisheries Science. Kathryn has been Corps for 5 years, in which with the Corps for 6 years, in which she has served he has served at J. Percy Priest Lake and Old at J. Percy Priest Lake and Old Hickory Lake. She Hickory Lake. He has been with the Old Hickory has been with the Old Hickory Staff for 5 years. Staff for 4 years. Trey oversees our Use Fee Kathryn oversees our GIS data collection and use, program, Greenhouse program, and Facebook page. the biannual Lake Cast and notification system, and

the project wide database system. Area 4 (Smith County line on the south side of the lake to the Hwy 109 Bridge) – ELECTRICITY CAN KILL Allen Earhart Allen Earhart attended If you have an electric line that Tennessee Tech University crosses over your adjacent Corps where he received a Bachelor of property, you may have noticed the Science in Wildlife Biology. He reminder we send to have your electric line inspected every five years. This may seem surveyor perform the proper deed research and set unnecessary since your markers. The Corps of Engineers will provide private property does not information, including bearings and distances, have to be inspected that describing where the public property line is located. often. However, it is With this knowledge, you can make informed very important that it is decisions about the location of the structures and inspected and corrected residential amenities on your property. Disturbing if your electric line is or removal of boundary markings is considered not up to code. If destruction of Government property and is a something is not right, it violation under CFR Title 36 327.14. could prove deadly. The public lands around the lake are dedicated to Let’s say there is an the optimal use of the general public. Private exposed wire from a dock that is in the water. We exclusive uses and activities not specifically know from science class that water is not a perfect authorized in accordance with the Old Hickory conductor of electricity, and that electricity takes Lake Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) are the path of least resistance to a ground. If someone prohibited and will not be allowed to remain. is swimming around the dock and he or she grabs a Private fences, patios, planters, pools, driveways, metal part of the dock to get out of the water, that porches, decks, gardens, ramps, sheds, dog person becomes the perfect conductor from the houses/pens, graveled areas, sand beaches, and most water to the ground. Because a dock is considered other structures or alterations of terrain are not private property, the dock owner can be held liable allowed on public property (see Old Hickory Lake’s for injury or electrocution. Shoreline Management Plan, Paragraph No 21: http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/old/rec/). The cost of inspecting and keeping your dock up to codes is minimal in comparison to a lawsuit or a A legally defensible boundary of public lands has loss of life resulting from an electrical injury. been on the ground at the lake for over 25 years. The presence of an unauthorized structure or BOUNDARY LINE REMARKING activity for any period of time does not provide any justification for its continued existence on public The public property line property. Accordingly, the Resource Manager will around Old Hickory Lake was require removal of unauthorized items followed by originally surveyed, proper site restoration. Please take time to find the established, and clearly line before you start any work. marked with signs on metal or wooden posts and blaze marks ROCKLAND RECREATION AREA painted yellow on trees SHELTERS between 1982-1984. Due to increased development around the lake, some of Reservations for the Rockland Recreation Area those markers no longer exist. While it is not shelters are no longer accepted at the Old Hickory possible for us to remark all 440 miles of shoreline Lake Resource Manager’s Office. All information every year, we try to remark portions of it. The concerning amenities available for each shelter has Corps of Engineers has remarked 15 miles of been listed on the National Recreation Reservation boundary in the Hendersonville area over the Service at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1(877) winter. 444-6777. Rockland shelters may be reserved up to 12 months in advance, but no later than 4 days in We would like to remind you that it is the advance. responsibility of each adjoining property owner to know the exact limits of his or her property. This is Please remember that if you are renting Shelter 2A, true whether it’s the line between two subdivision you will still need to come by the Resource lots or between private and public land. The surest Manager’s Office to pick up the key to the kitchen way to find your property lines is to have a licensed unit. You may pick up the key Monday through BUOYS Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Old Hickory Lake is a If you have any questions, please contact Ranger part of the Cumberland Trey Church at (615)822-4846 or (615)847-2395. River System. Our main channel is marked by red and green primary channel buoys. These buoys are set and U.S. Coast Guard primary maintained by the channel buoy United States Coast Guard. If you see that one of these buoys is missing or has washed up on the A HOME ON THE WATER shoreline, please call the U.S. Coast Guard at 1 (800) 253-7465.

For many, leaving the office or workplace on Friday and heading to the houseboat on the lake is the Old Hickory Lake beginning of a perfect weekend. With all the staff sets and features that modern houseboats are equipped with, maintains the they are just like being at home. smaller red and green secondary Some people, however, use their houseboats as full channel buoys. or part-time residences. This practice is prohibited These buoys mark by Corps of Engineers regulations and is a violation our creek channels Old Hickory Lake staff re-setting that branch off the under CFR Title 36 327.3(f) which states “…vessels a secondary channel buoy or other watercraft, while moored in commercial . If facilities, community or corporate docks, or at any you see that one of these buoys is missing or has fixed or permanent mooring point, may only be washed up, please call the Resource Manager’s used for overnight occupancy when such use is Office at (615) 822-4846 or (615) 847-2395 and incidental to recreational boating. Vessels or other provide us with the location of the missing buoy or watercraft are not to be used as a place of habitation where it has washed up. or residence.” Violators are subject to being issued a citation to appear in Federal Court. OLD HICKORY LAKE CONTACT INFORMATION Houseboating is an important part of the recreational experience at Old Hickory Lake and http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/Locations/Lakes/Old should be used for that purpose only. HickoryLake.aspx

For a copy of all regulations governing Corps of Mailing Address: Engineers Lakes, please come by the office or call Resource Manager’s Office, Old Hickory Lake (615)822-4846 or (615)847-2395. 5 Power Plant Road Hendersonville, TN 37075-3467 (615) 822-4846 or (615) 847-2395 Fax: (615) 822-2743

FACEBOOK PAGE: Old Hickory Lake now has a Facebook page that is updated with information on upcoming events, pictures, and safety tips throughout the year. Visit us at http://www.facebook.com/oldhickorylake and be sure to LIKE us! REAL ESTATE / LICENSE ITEMS CHANGES

Adjacent landowners may notice a change in the fees regarding their license items. After a review of the current shoreline license program, it was observed that some shoreline licenses should be issued under a general purpose license and not a minor shoreline license. Items granted under the minor shoreline license program must be issued in conjunction with a Shoreline Use Permit. The Nashville District is working hard to correct these issues and be consistent with the Old Hickory Lake Shoreline Management Plan to balance the use of the public land with the effective long-range management of the shoreline resources. Permit fees will remain the same at this time. Fees and Fair Market Value associated with general purpose license will be established through an appraisal by the Real Estate Division. Below is the new fee schedule for permits and shoreline licenses. Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience during this time.

PERMITS ISSUED BY THE RESOURCE MANAGER’S OFFICE

Land Use / Mowing / Path $ 10.00

Boat Dock Only $ 30.00

Boat Dock and Land Use / Mowing / Path $ 30.00

RipRap (Bank Stabilization) No Fee

LICENSE ITEMS ISSUED BY THE REAL ESTATE DIVISION

Utility Right-Of-Way (electric line, freshwater line, etc.) $125.00

Water Withdrawal (non-potable) $125.00

Approved steps or walkways $125.00

Personal Lift (for persons with disabilities) $125.00

Administration Fee for License Items $350.00 - $500.00

Fees for other license items are determined by Real Estate Appraisal.