Updated story published Thursday, May 22 at 4:00 p.m.:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has clarified that 11 boat ramps remain "temporarily closed," while others are being re-opened.
The Corps issued a statement on their website Thursday, saying the are continuing to assess closures as they deal with staffing shortages.
The updated list of closed boat ramps on the lake is below (parks are listed alphabetically):
- Burton Mill Park (Yacht Club Road, Flowery Branch)
- Keith Bridge Park (Old Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville)
- Little Hall Park (Little Hall Road, Gainesville)
- Little River Park (Little River Park Road, Gainesville)
- Long Hollow Park (Bryant Road, Gainesville)
- Mountain View Park (N. Cove Road, Gainesville)
- Old Federal Day Use Park (G.C. Crow Road, Flowery Branch)
- Robinson Park (Robinson Road, Gainesville)
- Two Mile Creek Park (Bethel Road, Gainesville)
- Van Pugh North Park (Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch)
- Van Pugh South Park (Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch)
The USACE clarified that all campgrounds on the lake will remain open.
District 31 State Representative Emory Dunahoo (R-Gillsville) said he had heard rumblings that some ramp shutdowns may be happening two weeks before the announcement Tuesday by the USACE.
"I called the Corps of Engineers to talk about dock permits. At that time, I found out they were short many rangers and many employees because of a tax cut during the Biden administration, and DOGE had gone in and stopped hiring, so they had stopped it to where the corps was undermanned and I figured something was going to happen," Dunahoo said.
Dunahoo said area residents started calling and texting him this week, saying they had paid permit fees to the USACE only to find out the ramps were being closed. That's when Dunahoo and other legislators began reaching out to the USACE and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to try to resolve the issue.
"I had shared this information with Representative Brent Cox and (9th District U.S. Congressman) Andrew Clyde, and we were all calling to let them know we represented Lake Lanier and this was critical for the small businesses in Hall County and Forsyth County if they shut all the ramps down," Dunahoo said. "You were going to have a debacle."
Dunahoo said the DNR offered to hire short-term employees to help reopen the ramps. The USACE then told Dunahoo and other legislators that they would reopen the ramps and help to keep them maintained.
Dunahoo said the DNR is working to find staffing for the ramps that remain closed. He said he's hopeful that pressure from U.S. Congressmen Andrew Clyde and Rich McCormick will help eventually re-open all the boating ramps.
"I think now they are taking this even more seriously to reach out and make sure, with the corps in Washington, that they understand that we can't just shut down," Dunahoo said. "I think we can have volunteers. I've already had several people call me that are retired that said 'look, don't shut them down, we'll figure out something of how to help.'"
Updated story published Thursday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m.:
Several boat ramps on Lake Lanier that were set to be closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ahead of Memorial Day weekend are now going to remain open according to a state senator.
District 27 State Senator Greg Dolezal issued a statement on social media Wednesday afternoon, saying that he, along with Georgia 7th District Congressman Rich McCormick, spoke with the USACE and encouraged them to re-open the sites.
"(USACE officials) have informed us they will be opening all of the unmanned Lake Lanier boat ramps, and will temporarily close 11 recreation sites, so about half of what was planned," Dolezal said. "They will continue to assess traffic and adjust as needed through the weekend."
Dolezal also said the USACE would cooperate with local authorities to manage traffic around the sites. He did not specify in the post which recreation sites would still be closing.
Rep. McCormick issued a similar statement Wednesday, saying he was glad to see the ramps remain open.
"I am grateful for the partnership of local leaders like Senator Greg Dolezal in advocating for our community," McCormick said.
Original story published Wednesday, May 21 at 12:15 p.m.:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closing 21 of the 51 boat ramp access parks on Lake Lanier.
The closures were announced by the corps on Wednesday morning, less than a week before the highly anticipated Memorial Day weekend. The corps cited staffing shortfalls for the closures in a statement on its website.
"The well-being of our community is our top priority, and the current staffing levels do not allow us to maintain the necessary safety measures within our parks," the statement said. "This includes essential services such as park supervision, maintenance, and safety monitoring that ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for all visitors."
The corps did not give a date when the park closures would take effect.
The parks that have closed are listed below:
- Balus Creek Park (Mountain View Road, Oakwood)
- Belton Bridge Park (Belton Bridge Road, Lula)
- Burton Mill Park (Yacht Club Road, Flowery Branch)
- Keith Bridge Park (Old Keith Bridge Road, Gainesville)
- Little Hall Park (Little Hall Road, Gainesville)
- Little Ridge Road Park (Little Ridge South Road, Cumming)
- Little River Park (Little River Park Road, Gainesville)
- Long Hollow Park (Bryant Road, Gainesville)
- Lula Bridge Boat Ramp (Lula Road, Lula)
- Mountain View Park (N. Cove Road, Gainesville)
- Old Federal Day Use Park (G.C. Crow Road, Flowery Branch
- Robinson Park (Robinson Road, Gainesville)
- Sardis Creek Park (Antioch Church Road, Gainesville)
- Simpson Park (Simpson Park Road, Gainesville)
- Thompson Bridge Park (Dunlap Landing Road, Gainesville)
- Tidwell Park (Pilgrim Mill Road, Cumming)
- Two Mile Creek Park (Bethel Road, Gainesville)
- Upper Overlook (Upper Overlook Park Road, Buford)
- Van Pugh North Park (Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch)
- Van Pugh South Park (Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch)
- Vanns Tavern Park (Vanns Tavern Road, Gainesville)
Neither the USACE nor the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has responded to request for comment on the closures as of Wednesday afternoon.
Hall County's Parks and Leisure Services issued a statement on social media Tuesday clarifying that parks managed by the county are still open, including Bolding Mill Park, Duckett Mill Park, Laurel Park and Wahoo Creek Park. They also said in a comment replying to one citizen's concerns about the closure of Sardis Creek Park that the county will be taking over operations of that facility on July 1.
Forsyth County's Parks and Recreation Department issued a similar statement Tuesday, saying the parks they manage are still open. They include Bald Ridge Campground, Charleston Park, Sawnee Campground, Shady Grove Campground, Mary Alice Park, Six Mile Creek Park and Young Deer Creek Park.
Dawson County officials also confirmed that parks operated by their parks and recreation department will remain open. Those include Nix Bridge Park, Thompson Creek Park, Toto Creek Park and War Hill Park.
