The city of Chattanooga and the Army Corps of Engineers are taking steps to stabilize the banks of the Tennessee River near a main sewer line.
Bill Payne, city engineer, said the site is below the clubhouse of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.
He said the sewer line was installed there 80 feet from the river several decades ago.
But he said some 40-50 feet of the riverbank have washed away since the 42-inch line was installed. He said the line is now just 35 feet from the sometimes-raging waters of the main channel.
Mr. Payne said the Army Corps will likely put in stone riprap to try to preserve the shore line at that point. He said that is the only workable solution in the face of the powerful currents that he said are now washing away the vegetation on the riverbank.
The city's 35 percent match for design and installation of the project is $647,150.
Mr. Payne said the Army Corps has already carried out a feasibility report on the project.