Lake Burton Lake Seed Lake Rabun Tallulah Falls Lake Lake Tugalo Lake Yonah MISSIONGeorgia Power is an investor owned utility serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power owns and manages approximately 82,000 acres of land Lake Oconee reserved for watershed protection, future utility use, and power generation plant sites and Lake Jackson fourteen lakes across the state. Our Company manages our lakes and lands under three Lake Sinclair basic guiding principals: 1) Protection of our assets and the environment. 2) Promotion of Lake Juliette the use of company forestlands and lakes for the public good. 3) Wise use and utilization of our renewable natural resources to generate revenue and provide opportunities for Lake Harding Goat Rock Lake Georgia’s lands and lakes are a significant natural outdoor recreation. Our mission is to preserve the scenic, environmental, and recreational resource. Their beauty and bounty add an immeasurable Lake Oliver quality of life – not only for people but for the wildlife value of our lands and lakes. dependent on them. Those of us who live, work, or enjoy the recreational opportunities of our lands and lakes must collaborate in their management, preserving these resources for future generations. The purpose of this booklet is to provide information to our customers and other stakeholders As part of its hydroelectric power development beginning regarding our management of these important natural resources. The management of our in the early 1900’s, Georgia Power created fourteen lakes on three river systems across the state of Georgia and lands and lakes is comprised of many components, including providing recreational today has a total of eighteen lakes. Georgia Power also owns and manages approximately 82,000 acres of land opportunities to the public, compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and Lake Worth reserved for watershed protection, future utility use, and power generation plant sites. We are committed to pre - regulations, enhancing wildlife habitat on our forest lands, protection of our aquatic serving the scenic, environmental and recreational value of our lands and lakes. And we invite you to be a partner resources and fisheries on our lakes, and partnerships and community outreach efforts. in this important effort. To that end, we hope that you will find the information in this booklet to be beneficial. We hope that you will find this information beneficial; that you will have the opportunity to enjoy the opportunities for recreation on our lakes or lands; and that you will join us in partnering to protect these resources for generations to come. 1 Georgia’s lakes, rivers and streams are a significant natural resource. The combination of magnificent scenery and variety of plant and animal life make the state a great place for those who love outdoor recreation. Much of this natural playground is under Georgia Power’s stewardship, and company-owned lands reserved primarily for the production of electricity have in many places been developed as recreation areas for public use. 2 3 Boating Access Parks (Day use, Camping) Georgia Power’s lakes provide Both serious campers and those many boating access points with simply seeking to get away will 32 boat ramps scattered along find a campsite to meet their their shorelines. No matter what needs on Georgia Power lands. size or type of watercraft you The company has more than operate, there is probably a 350 campsites across the state. Georgia Power lake suitable for Supervised campgrounds can it. Before you bring your boat to accommodate tents, trailer, or the lake, however, check to be recreational vehicles, and all sure it can be launched and used have hook-ups for water and Georgia Power also has primitive on the body of water you’re electricity as well as picnic campsites available. considering. According to Georgia tables and grills. Each facility is State Law, no household boats or equipped with hot showers, For those of you just looking boats with marine sanitary restrooms with flush toilets, and for a day trip, Georgia Power’s public use areas are perfect for the family or group seeking to enjoy the wonders of nature. There are 22 day use areas Lake Harding Sailboat Club. across the state, many of which have pavilions, restrooms, beaches, picnic areas, and hiking trails. No matter where you live is regulated by the Georgia Wildlife Management Areas in the state, you probably aren’t Department of Natural Resources One of Georgia Power’s land far from one of Georgia Power’s and requires a fishing license or management goals is to promote Public Use areas. permit. Licenses can be purchased the use of our forestlands for the locally at sporting goods stores, public good. Partnering with the Fishing convenience stores and marinas, DNR, over 27,000 acres (33%) Blanton Creek Park. Whether you enjoy fishing from or by visiting the Department of of the company lands are made a boat, a pier, or the bank, and Natural Resources Web site available to the public and devices are allowed on any of dump stations for black and gray whether you prefer open water (www.gofishgeorgia.co m) . For more designated as Wildlife Georgia Power’s lakes. Also water. For those seeking a more or secluded inlets, you're sure to information on Georgia fishing, Management Areas. These lands remember, boating laws are private camping experience, find a great fishing spot on visit www.georgia-outdoors.com, provide areas for fishing as well enforced by the appropriate law Georgia Power's lakes. Fishing www.oneilloutside.com, as opportunities to hunt deer, enforcement agency and not opportunities include bass, trout, or "The Southern Fishing Report" turkey, quail, doves, duck, rab - Georgia Power. crappie, bluegill, catfish and (www.georgia-outdoors.com) bits, and squirrels. For more many other fish species. Fishing information see the section ‘Forestry and Wildlife’ or contact the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, or go to www.gofishgeorgia.com. 4 5 For more information on Recreation, please visit our website at www.georgiapower.com/lakes Georgia Power employs professionals with experience and expertise in parks and recreation, shoreline, and property management to administer its shoreline management program. This program serves as a management tool which is used to control structures, construction, and any unauthorized activity on Company owned lands and lakes. This program is designed to ensure compliance with the federal licensing process and other federal, state, and local regulations. As shoreline residents and lake users, we invite you to be our partner in this program by adhering to our shoreline guidelines and working with our staff to when questions arise. MANAGEMENT SHORELINE6 7 Lake Sinclair. either a contour elevation or a State and County Regulations If a homeowner in Georgia we issue on average 3,514 line established by a metes and In addition to Federal require - wishes to perform work within permits annually. That’s an bounds survey. The project ments, the Company must also the buffer, county and state amazing amount of work being boundary designates what areas adhere to state laws and county variances will be required prior conducted on or adjacent to our must be protected for environ - requirements. Several of our to Georgia Power issuing a property by people just like you! mental, scenic, and recreational lakes border Alabama and South permit for work. Georgia Power At Georgia Power, we take pride purposes according to the Carolina. Laws vary from state to will review the permit request for that our lake residents are our license. The Company’s shoreline state and regulations vary from buffer disturbance on shoreline friends and neighbors. Without management program is the tool county to county, and are subject in bordering states. you and your willingness to sup - which is used to manage that to change. Our guidelines are port our shoreline management project boundary. developed with these laws and Our Friends and Neighbors efforts, our jobs would be regulations in mind. This is why Many people enjoy the benefits extremely difficult. In order to continue operating having shoreline guidelines and of our lakes beyond just the pro - and maintaining an existing working with our customers to duction of hydroelectric power. hydroelectric project, licenses’ ensure compliance is important. Not only are our lakes a place to must be renewed periodically. The recreate, but they are residential relicensing process addresses Buffers and Project Boundary communities. We have a total of power generation, natural The state of Georgia's Erosion 19,011 residents on our lakes and resources, recreation, and and Sedimentation Control Act of aesthetics at hydroelectric 1975 requires a 25 foot vegetated projects. The public relicensing buffer on all Georgia Power lakes. process involves federal, state, Georgia Power has adopted this and local resource agencies, practice on the portion of shore - Camper’s Dock – Blanton Creek Park. non-governmental organizations, line which borders other states citizens groups, Indian tribes, as well. This buffer is usually, but Federal Licensing and many other stakeholders. not always, within the lakes All fourteen of our lakes operate project boundary. This vegetative under Federal Energy Regulatory For more information buffer protects the lake and Commission (FERC) licenses. on the relicensing process visit adjacent property from the These licenses require adjoining www.ferc.gov effects of erosion and helps filter shoreline property owners and other pollutants that may get into Georgia Power to work as part - the water. The buffers also ners when it comes to construc - enhances the natural appearance tion or modification of shoreline of the lake's shoreline. Several property. A project boundary is counties around our lakes require established for each licensed buffers larger than 25 feet.