Riprap and shoreline stabilization
Boat wakes and wind waves wear away unprotected banks. Smith Mountain Lake's rules favor softer fixes first and limit hard walls.
An eroding bank doesn't just lose soil. It can undercut the shore end of your dock walkway, topple trees into the water and send sediment into the cove. Stopping it takes the right method for your site and permits from both Appalachian Power and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
What does Appalachian Power prefer?
Owners are asked to consider vegetation first, then bioengineering, and then hard armoring such as riprap. Riprap is allowed only where there's active erosion: banks that are bare, undercutting or sloughing, or likely to send sediment into the lake.
What are the riprap rules?
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Permits | Appalachian Power and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Minimum stone | VDOT Class I, 50 to 150 lb per stone |
| Bulkheads | Prohibited unless FERC grants a variance |
| Rearranging existing riprap | Routine maintenance, no permit |
| Adding riprap | Permit required |
Trees and vegetation
Vegetation removed for erosion control has to be replaced or mitigated under the plan. Trees and woody material removed to place riprap are collected, bundled and sunk along the shoreline in water no deeper than 15 feet as fish habitat. If clearing is needed for dock access, a separate vegetation permit goes with the dock application.
Signs your bank needs help
- Undercut or slumping bank edges
- Bare soil or exposed roots along the waterline
- Muddy water in your cove after wakes or storms
- The shore end of the dock walkway shifting
Timing and dredging
From April 15 through June 15, work sites have to be checked for largemouth bass nests, and work near a nest is modified or delayed. Dredging needs Appalachian Power and Corps permits and is off-limits from February 15 to June 15, in wetlands and close to the 795-foot contour.
Pricing comes from the builder after a look at your lot, your shoreline and what's already there. We don't quote prices, and anything said over the phone before a site visit is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
- Moneta
- Huddleston and the dam end
- Hardy and the Roanoke River end
- Union Hall and the Franklin County shore
Common questions
Can I build a seawall instead of riprap?
Bulkheads are prohibited on Smith Mountain Lake unless FERC grants a variance under the Shoreline Management Plan. Riprap and softer methods are the usual path.
Do I need a permit to fix riprap that shifted?
Rearranging existing riprap within its original length, width and height is routine maintenance and doesn't need a permit. Adding new riprap does.
Related services
More background: Smith Mountain Lake dock permit guide.
Planning a new dock, a boathouse or a lift for the new boat?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Smith Mountain Lake will call you back to talk through your lot and the Appalachian Power permit.