Special Edition: Lake Sedimentation

Urgent Update on Lake Sedimentation Issue and Call to Action

As many of you are aware, the Richland HOA Board has been actively working to address the significant sedimentation issue affecting Lake Richland (aka Laurel Lake or Richlake, depending upon who is speaking) as well as the other bodies of water within our community. This is a critical issue that impacts not only the beauty and health of our environment but also your property values and potentially our HOA finances.

We have been engaging with Gwinnett County to address this problem, as we believe the county bears significant responsibility due to past actions that have contributed to the sedimentation of our lakes. Despite our numerous attempts to engage with the county, our efforts have not yet resulted in any substantial action to remediate the sediment in the lake. 

This is the last communication we received from Gwinnett County: 

While we are still reviewing the letter and determining our next steps, we want to assure you that we are not backing down. What is essentially being stated is the stormwater fees every homeowner and business in Gwinnett County pays can ONLY be used for county owned assests.  So essentially, the Gwinnett County Government is using our fees/taxes for the improvement of the county property only. 

We are currently exploring legal avenues and have reached out to several environmental law firms for potential representation. Our goal is to compel Gwinnett County to assist with the cost of remediating the damage to Lake Ruchland and ensure the long-term sustainability of this vital ecosystem.

In addition, we have submitted two open records requests to Gwinnett County under the Georgia Open Records Act. These requests seek access to public records that pertain to sedimentation issues in all lakes within Gwinnett County, including our own. We encourage all members to review these requests as they are fulfilled to better understand the scope of the issue.  We have only received the first tranche of records so far (link to first ORR).   Additionally, I have identified at least two other neighborhoods in Gwinnett County who are having similar issues with the county and have reached out to potentially coordinate.   You can also see the presentation we made to the County pressing our case for the County having at least some responsibility for the sedimentation we are experiencing in Lake Richland (see graphic below). 

Of greatest concern, we have gotten some rough estimates on the cost to remediate the damage to Lake Richland alone.  Conservatively, dredging just one lake could be as high as $2.6 million. If the county does not assist with remediating Lake Richland, these costs will fall largely on the HOA as well as the other lake property owners.  This is a significant financial burden that could impact all of us.  As you can see in the graphic above, the HOA owns approx 50% of the lake.  

However, this issues does not just impact those on Lake Richland.  Solitude Lake Managment has been reporting SEVERE sedimentation in all lakes within Richland.   This means that similar remediation efforsts will need to be undertaken on the other lakes at some point in the future. 

Here are several of the past lake management reports and sediment studies:

One            Two            Three

We need your help. Please consider reaching out to your county representatives to express your concern about this issue. Every voice matters and can make a difference.  You have an opportunity to have your voice heard on August 16, when Commissioner Holtkamp holds a town hall meeting at Collins Hill Library @ 6:30 PM.  

We understand that this is a complex issue that will not be resolved overnight. However, we are committed to doing everything we can to protect our community and the natural beauty that makes it such a wonderful place to live. We will continue to keep you updated on our progress and appreciate your ongoing support.  If you happen to have a background in enviromental issues, enviromental health or environmental law, we would love to have you volunteer to help identify the most logical and effective approach in solving this issue.  

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and action as we navigate this challenging issue.

The HOA Board of Directors

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