HALL COUNTY, Ga. — The government agency that oversees Lake Lanier says a popular water park’s decision to ban swimming is allowed.

Margaritaville at Lanier Islands announced earlier this month that they are keeping the beach open, but not allowing anyone to go into the water.

A fence has been installed off the shoreline to reinforce the swimming ban.

The park’s management said they initiated a swimming ban for safety reasons:

“After careful consideration, we have decided to no longer offer swimming in the lake area. While we understand that this may be disappointing for some, we believe it is the right decision to maintain a safe environment for all our guests to enjoy -- and will allow us to put added focus on other parts of the park to offer a better overall experience for all our water park guests.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the lake and working with those who use it.

The agency issued a new statement on Tuesday saying they have received multiple complaints from the public. However, officials said Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is “within their rights” to keep visitors from the lake:

“Per the lease agreement between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Margaritaville hospitality company, the lessee is within their rights to restrict water access around the property due to concerns of safety.”

The statement added that there are several day-use parks around the area that still have access for swimmers and boaters.

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