The Lake Lanier Association (LLA) invited area residents and other interested groups and individuals to its 2014 annual meeting on Sunday afternoon, April 27th.
On this particular weekend, Lake Lanier Islands (LLI) opened its gates and offered free parking at the proudly manicured 1,500-acre resort. A friendly attendant kindly provided clearly marked maps of the Island’s many roads.
This year’s gathering was held at the Carriage House at Lake Lanier Islands.
A number of first-time visitors were unaware that the Carriage House — although clearly marked on the colorful free maps — cannot be seen from park roads or parking lots.
To find this pavilion, folks must follow the directions to a very large parking lot where they’ll find a great big building that’s called The Grand Hall.
Wild salmon instinctively know they must return to a precise point hundreds of miles up rushing streams in order to spawn. Swallows know they must return to Capistrano on the first day of spring — the same day turkey buzzards land in Hinckley, Ohio. We all know Justin Bieber should return to Canada as soon as possible.
Visitors with similar innate skills will immediately know there is a steep, long stairway on the lake side of the parking lot by The Grand Hall that mysteriously leads to both the Carriage House and Sunset Cove.
Once there, we were welcomed by LLA’s Executive Director Joanna Cloud, who was recently honored by Rivers Alive for her involvement in the Shore Sweep on Lake Lanier. Last year’s 1,000 Shore Sweep volunteers removed 34-tons of trash from Lanier.
The LLA’s President of the Board of Directors Val Perry eloquently spoke of the organization’s goals to increase membership to 5,000 households to help in the quest for a clean, full and safe Lake Lanier.
In 2013, navigation marker lights were placed at dozens of the lake’s 1,000 most hazardous spots. Mr. Perry announced plans to add another 60-100 safety warning lights in 2014.
The trash that always seems to appear after heavy rains at Flat Creek was addressed by President Perry. A clean-up there in March pulled 15-tons of garbage from that spot on Lake Lanier.
Other items of business were brought up by Val Perry, including additional solutions being considered for Flat Creek; the problem of legally removing abandoned docks and boats that litter the lake; and, new red and green navigation lights to help boaters identify mouths of creeks and at many of the lake’s bridges.
US Army Corps of Engineers’ Operations Project Manager for Lake Lanier Tim Rainey spoke openly and honestly about his personal and professional desire to keep the Corps’ parks, boat ramps and campgrounds open to the public, in spite of diminishing funding.
Tim Rainey is an asset to our government and to our community. He is a stalwart ally in LLA’s pursuit to keep the lake clean, full and safe.
Finally, Frank Norton, Jr., presented his fascinating perspective of how the exponential growth he predicts will bring Atlanta to Gainesville, Lake Lanier and beyond. Mr. Norton believes that the average lake house on Lanier will be valued at a million dollars in the next few decades.
The best way to stay informed about the mission and activity at the Lake Lanier Association is to become a member. We believe it’s worth your time and investment.
Click Here for the Lake Lanier Association’s Website
