11-15-06
Todd Bethune
Manager Macon EPD Office (EPD)
Les Ager
Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)
Dept of Natural Resources
Jan Sammons
Stream Buffer Expert (EPD)
Atlanta EPD
Bert Deener
Wildlife Resources Division (WRD)
Dept of Natural Resources
REFERENCE;
West Lake Boat Landing on the Ocmulgee
River in Twiggs County.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This word document e-mail is being written by the Altamaha Riverkeeper, Inc.
(ARK). The ARK is requesting the assistance of the EPD and the WRD of
the Department of Natural Resources regarding the installation of a new boat
landing at the above referenced area.
There has been an old boat landing at what is known as West
Lake on the Ocmulgee River for many, many years. I know
for a fact that there was a landing there more than fifty years
ago because it was there when I was growing up in Cochran many
years ago. I doubt that there is any question that a
new boat landing was needed in the spot, but not one as my
photos will describe.
I have been informed that at least one of the Twiggs County
Commissioners was intending to install a new landing and either
pave or concrete over the entire area for parking space. It
appears that phase one of someone's plans has been completed
according to my attached photos.
My photos and three photos taken by Wendell Berryhill of Cochran
on 9-29-06 will show the area. All photos dated 11-12-06
were taken by me on that date. I can't believe this would
be an authorized construction of a boat landing because the
first thing that would have been required is a stream buffer
variance for the impacts to the river bank in at least two
different places.
Someone in the Twiggs County Government may have issued a
land disturbing permit but that is probably unlikely. I
am told that some of the dirt from the excavated river bank
was spread around the parking lot to fill existing washed out
areas.
East of the new ramp on the river bank is another spot that
appears to have been excavated with heavy equipment. Once
again the river bank buffer sustained further unnecessary damage.
On the west side of the old landing site there is a pile of
trees that appear to have been pushed there by heavy equipment
and this would be another spot of river bank buffer that was
unnecessarily impacted.
Other than some small gravel spread in the drive way area
of the newly excavated landing I could find no Best Management
Practices (BMP's) on site to prevent major areas of the entire
site from washing into the river by heavy rainfall or the next
river flooding event. 
The West Lake Boat Landing area is accessible via U.S. Highway
96 from U.S. Highway 87/23 from the Tarversville area. Take
U.S. Highway 96 from Tarversville west approximately three
(3) miles and you will come to a county road intersection. At
this point turn left onto West Lake Road and travel approximately
three (3) miles until you come to a county road that crosses
the rail road track on the right. Turn right on this
county road and this road will take you straight to the West
Lake Landing. All other roads between U.S. 96 and the
road that takes you to the West Lake Landing are hunting club
roads and most will be gated. When you visit this site
it is advisable to use a four wheel drive vehicle if this red
clay road is wet. If need be to find this area please
check with the Ocmulgee WMA Rangers, they should be very familiar
with this area.
The ARK is requesting that each individual department that
has any regulatory authority over this type activity to please
step in and cause Twiggs County to stabilize this site before
serious harm can be done to the Ocmulgee River.
After this site becomes stabilized to protect the river we
further request that the entity responsible for this activity
be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. All these
county public works departments know that permits and stream
buffer variances are required prior to any such activity as
these excavated holes in the river bank. It would appear
that common sense would tell someone not to grade a river bank
straight up and down.
The only satisfaction the river can get out of this is not
an after the fact stream buffer variance. Prosecution
of the individuals or entity responsible for this site is the
only satisfaction the river should need after they stabilize
this entire site.
Thank y'all in advance for your assistance in this very important
matter.
James Holland,
Altamaha Riverkeeper
CC;
Donald D.J. Stack, Esq., Stack and Associates
more photos >>> |
