Keep your wall’s history together and discuss a sensible schedule with a qualified professional.
Regular checks can catch changes in the top of the wall, joints, drainage and nearby ground. Keeping dated photos and reports helps a professional spot problems and plan repairs.
From safe ground, note new holes, movement or damage and keep earlier reports. Do not clear drains, excavate, drill or try structural repairs yourself. Ask a professional which tasks are appropriate for your wall.
Answer from what you already know. Stay on safe ground; do not go near the edge or into the water to check. You can choose “Not sure” for any question.
Skip this and go to the request form
An inspection can help answer the questions you were unsure about.
An on-site inspection is needed to assess the wall’s condition. These answers help you explain what you have noticed.
Prepare for a professional assessment · Discuss the next step
Tell us about the concern and we’ll help you work out the next step.
Continue to the request form. You can choose whether to include this check with your request.
The questions organize observations about soil loss, wall movement, open joints and damaged concrete. They do not diagnose a cause or approve a repair. Before shoreline work, review Alabama Power’s Smith Lake shoreline guidelines and have the property assessed.
Choose the care you want to discuss. Use this guide to understand the options, what is included and the next steps.
Request plan details
Ask what is included, what it costs and when it can be arranged.
If the wall is moving or the ground is opening, keep people away and get prompt professional help. Those changes need attention sooner than a routine maintenance visit.
Check Alabama Power’s Smith Lake shoreline guidelines before substantial repairs, added rock or other shoreline changes. The property’s approved design and permit conditions govern the work.
Tell us about your wall and the care you need. Discuss the options, schedule and price before you choose a plan.
The right schedule depends on the wall’s age, condition and exposure. Ask the person assessing it to recommend when it should be checked again.
Ask which maintenance tasks and repairs are included in the plan and which would cost extra.
Ask whether the plan includes a post-storm check. Repairs and insurance claims are separate, so check your agreement and insurance policy for the details.
Tell us if you need a written report. Ask for dated photos, the areas checked, any areas that could not be inspected and recommended next steps.
Yes. Tell us which properties need care and who owns them. Discuss the checks and access needed at each location.
Photograph the same locations from safe ground and note the date and available official lake level. Different water levels reveal different parts of the bank; a newly visible section is not necessarily newly damaged.
Check for displaced stone, eroded soil, a changing lean, open joints, settled paving and plant loss. The ENS guide specifically calls for checks after frost, severe storms and wave action. A maintenance plan should say who reviews changes and when a professional visit is needed.
Alabama Power · Smith Lake conditions and reservoir facts · Smith Lake enhanced natural stabilization contractor guide
Alabama Power’s general repair category includes adding rock within an existing riprap footprint when the work is considered substantial. Maintenance is not a blanket approval exemption.
Keep the current permit and approved method with the maintenance file. Any plan price, visit schedule and cancellation terms must come from the actual provider; this site does not imply an active subscription.
Tell us about your wall and how to reach you. Use this guide to plan the care it needs.
Tell us where your property is and what needs attention.
Clear guidance for your lakefront project.
