Seawalls and shoreline riprap
Constant wakes and changing water levels chew away unprotected banks. Ameren has specific rules about how you can stop it.
Busy summer boat traffic sends waves into the shoreline day after day. Over time an unprotected bank undercuts, trees lean in, and the soil holding your dock walkway or steps washes out. Bank stabilization stops that loss, but on Lake of the Ozarks it has to follow Ameren's guidelines and needs a permit before any work.
Riprap or seawall?
Ameren's guidelines call riprap the preferred method: clean limestone or native rock 8 to 12 inches across, placed along the eroded bank. A seawall is only allowed where there's at least 24 inches of vertical erosion, and when one is permitted, 5 horizontal feet of riprap has to go at its toe to absorb wave energy.
Other shoreline rules
- Work has to stay inside your extended property lines and no more than 3 feet out from the eroded bank.
- Seawalls generally can't go below elevation 658.5 feet, except where erosion is extreme.
- In wetlands and undeveloped head-of-cove areas, seawalls must sit landward of 659.5 feet.
- A seawall can't be used to gain usable land.
- The project boundary has to be marked before you apply.
The application must show the lowest elevation of the work, the distance from the toe of the bank to the wall, and the wall height. Activities other than docks that reach lakeward of 658.5 feet or into a wetland also need U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval. Bank stabilization permits must be completed within two years, with no extensions.
Signs your bank needs help
- Undercut or slumping bank edges
- Exposed tree roots along the waterline
- An old wall that's cracked, leaning or open at the joints
- Soil washing out behind or under a wall
- The dock walkway's shore anchor shifting
Timing
The lake is usually lowest from winter into early spring, which exposes more of the bank. Because permits take time, apply well ahead of when you want the work done.
The builder sets the price after seeing your shoreline, water depth and existing dock. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I build a seawall anywhere on my shoreline?
Only where Ameren's guidelines allow. A seawall requires at least 24 inches of vertical erosion, and riprap alone is the preferred method.
Do I need the Corps of Engineers too?
For shoreline activities other than docks that extend lakeward of elevation 658.5 feet or into a wetland, yes, Corps approval is required in addition to Ameren's.
Related services
- New floating docks
- Boat lifts and PWC lifts
- Dock repair, flotation and re-decking
- Dock moves, cables and anchoring
More background: Lake of the Ozarks dock permit guide.
Dock sitting low, lift acting up, or ready for a new slip?
Call now and a dock builder who works on Lake of the Ozarks will call you back to talk through your shoreline.