Seawalls and shoreline protection
Boat wakes and changing water levels wear away banks. A seawall or riprap protects your shoreline and your dock's connection to land.
Wakes from busy boating weekends, storms and seasonal water-level changes can steadily eat away an unprotected bank, undermining yards, steps and dock walkways. Shoreline stabilization stops that loss.
Common approaches
- Seawalls or bulkheads of concrete, rock or block hold back the bank.
- Riprap (large rock) absorbs wave energy at the base of a wall or along a sloped bank.
- Repairs to cracked, leaning or undermined walls.
Entergy's shoreline rules
On Lakes Hamilton and Catherine, bank stabilization, dredging, boat ramps and swim areas need an Entergy shoreline activity permit and must also comply with the Corps of Engineers' General Permit 60. Entergy requires riprap along the entire length of new seawalls up to normal summer pool level, and the wall face must sit on the approved, flagged location. Don't start work until the permit is issued.
Timing with drawdowns
Winter drawdowns on Lakes Hamilton and Catherine, usually alternating 3 and 5 feet, expose more of the shoreline, which can make seawall work easier. Permits take time, so plan ahead.
Signs your shoreline needs attention
- The bank is undercut or slumping
- Cracks, leaning or gaps in an existing wall
- Soil washing out from behind the wall
- The dock walkway's land connection shifting
Prices come from the dock builder after they've seen your shoreline. We don't quote prices ourselves, and a phone estimate is only a starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a permit for a seawall on Lake Hamilton?
Yes. Entergy requires a shoreline activity permit for bank stabilization, with riprap in front of new walls.
When is the best time to build a seawall?
Many owners schedule it around the winter drawdown, when more shoreline is exposed. Apply for the permit well ahead.
Related services
More background: Hot Springs lake dock guide.
Planning a new dock or fixing an old one?
Call now and a local dock builder will look at your shoreline and quote the work.