ALABAMA POWER COMPANY SMITH LAKE RESERVOIR
Corporate Real Estate CONTRACTORS
2060 3rd Avenue South K.D. Huey, Jr. Ferret Drummond
Jasper, AL. 35501 Sharpe Johnson
JOHN LEDBETTER, REGIONAL COORDINATOR
205-384-7347 (Office)
205-384-7309 (Fax) To apply for a lakeshore use permit for Lewis
Smith Reservoir, please call (205) 384-7385.
FOR RESERVOIR INFORMATION:
1-800-LAKES1 (800)-525-3711) Permit Fee $250.00
Web site www.alapower.com
This is a set of general guidelines for any and all construction activities within the boundary of the above stated reservoir. These guidelines do not attempt to address every specific situation that may exist on a reservoir, but are provided as general guidelines to assist you in your decision to build.
All activity within the boundary of Lewis Smith hydroelectric reservoir must be pre-approved and permitted by Alabama Power Company. Alabama Power Company owns the pool property of this reservoir and in some areas has additional property rights along the shoreline.
FULL POOL (SUMMER) LEVEL 510’ ABOVE MSL (MEAN SEA LEVEL)
WATER STORAGE EASEMENT 522’ ABOVE MSL (MEAN SEA LEVEL)
Please contact the office prior to the beginning of any construction within the project boundary of the reservoir. A representative of Alabama Power Company will be available to meet with you at the site to discuss and review your proposed work. When you contact Alabama Power Company to set up an appointment for a site visit, please provide general directions to your property and a phone number where you may be reached.
NO PERMITS WILL BE ISSUED AND NO CONSTRUCTION WILL BE ALLOWED WITHOOUT A FULLY APPROVED PERMIT AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. (signed permit, deed copy, signed sketch, signed guidelines etc.)
Sketches must show all existing facilities with their dimensions and locations as well as the proposed locations (with dimensions) of all new facilities. All sketches must be submitted on 8.5 x 11 standard paper. They must show the locations of all proposed constructions, and the proximity to the shoreline and property lines. For seawall construction, sketches must show distance from full pool shoreline. Sketches for piers, boat slips etc., are to show size, length, width and if with a roof, height and dimensions of roof. Specify type of materials to be used: Your sketch must be signed.
Lot with less than 100 linear feet of shoreline may be restricted or may not be eligible for structures within the power pool area of the reservoir.
Any and all lake front property construction (piers, ramps, boathouses, boat slips, etc) should be set a minimum of fifteen feet from your property line. This separation should be maintained for a reasonable distance within the lake area. This distance will be determined by Alabama Power Company on a case by case basis. Pavilions, gazebos or any other appurtenant structures cannot be enclosed or walled except that screening may be used for the exterior walls of said structures. No satellite dishes or similar structures may be placed below the normal high water level of any reservoir. No garbage or foreign materials (remnants of building materials, old appliances, tires, etc) are to be placed below the high water level of any reservoir. In a narrow slough, no structure can extend over ¼ way across the slough. No habitable structures may be constructed on ground lying within the pool and/or water storage easement on this reservoir.
PIERS: The walkway should not exceed 60 feet in length. The useable platform structure should not exceed 420 square feet. Piers 4 feet and less in width are considered walkways and will be included in the length but will not necessarily be included in the square footage guideline.
BOATHOUSES/WETSLIPS/BOATSLIPS: Should not exceed 1024 Sq. feet. Must be open and cannot be walled or enclosed; however, a portion of one exterior side may be walled for the placement/construction of an approved storage area. Sketch should show if covered (roofed), and dimensions. Non reflective materials must be used. No habitable fixtures are allowed in boathouses. Wet slips are uncovered boat mooring attached to a pier or a walkway. Boat slips are constructed by excavating into the shoreline and covering the excavated area with a boathouse structure. There are specific requirements you must discuss with Alabama Power Company concerning this type of construction prior to commencing any work. The boat mooring area (open water) cannot exceed 12 feet in width and 28 feet in length.
WALKWAYS: A walkway from the shore to a floating pier or boat house is permissible, but may not extend more than 60 feet as measured from the 510 ft. mean sea level contour. In addition, the total length of permitted facilities (including any walkway, boat house and equalizer) may not extend more than 92 feet as measured from the 510 ft. mean sea level contour. These measured lengths are the maximum that may be permitted but are not appropriate for a all circumstances. The approval length of any permitted facilities will be specified in the permit issued by Alabama Power Company.
** With regard to the construction of and remodeling of floating structures, flotation shall be encased or closed cell (extruded) expanded polystyrene of good quality and manufactured for marine use which will not become water-logged or sink when punctured. All beaded foam material being replaced shall be removed from the reservoir and properly disposed of.
BOAT RAMPS: Boat ramps should not exceed twenty (20) feet in width and may only extend into the lake a reasonable distance from the shoreline. Length and width will be determined by Alabama Power Company depending on location.
SEAWALLS: Seawalls are to be constructed as close to existing shoreline as possible. The source and kind of backfill must be approved by Alabama Power Company. Backfill must not exceed an average of 1 cubic yard per running foot. Backfill only to the contour of the natural slope of the property. No debris or foreign materials to be used as backfill. No new creosote products may be used. Rip rap (4 to 9 inch diameter rocks) must be placed at the base of a seawall.
DREDGING: Dredging material from the lake must be approved by Alabama Power Company prior to the removal of any material. Applications for this activity will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Alabama Power Company cooperates with developers on this reservoir and encourages compliance with covenants and/or other regulatory/design schemes put in place by the developers in order to encourage best practices for shoreline management within the developments. It is your responsibility to obtain the necessary architectural board approvals, if such approval is a requirement prior to construction.
ALABMAMA POWER COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THESE GUIDELINES AT ANY TIME AND AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
These general guidelines are implemented by Alabama Power Company to allow it to provide for orderly and reasonable shoreline management of this reservoir, recognizing that peculiarities in shorelines and property lines exist on this reservoir and may require flexibility on the part of Alabama Power and/or landowners.
Permittee Statement: I have received, read, understand and agree to abide by these General Guidelines for Shoreline Permitting.
Signed: _______________________________
Date: ______________________________
Revised February 2008
Reprinted with permission from Smith Lake Living Magazine/Smith Lake Living LLC.
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