A group dedicated to watching over Lake Allatoona wants to add representation from Cherokee County to its ranks.

The Lake Allatoona Association this month asked the county Board of Commissioners to nominate a representative to join the nonprofit's board of directors. The commissioners reviewed the request at their work session, but took no action.

The association strives to be "the voice of Lake Allatoona," according to board Chairman Sean Nicholl of Acworth.

The nonprofit group was formed in April 2007 by citizens to provide educational and conservation information to all users to continually preserve the lake and aide in decreasing shoreline erosion.

The mission of the association is to bring together lake users, local businesses, government and environmental agencies as one voice to provide public awareness and supplemental funding to preserve water quality and the water level.

Nicholl said the 2,000-member association keeps an eye on things such as how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is managing the lake, the impact of development and soil erosion issues.

"We raise our voice in a loud way," he said.

To accomplish its goals, the association prints informational pamphlets, hosts community events and lobbies local and state officials to support of the lake.

The association is separate from the Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority, which was established by the state of Georgia. A group of citizens formed the Lake Allatoona Association as a grassroots initiative to also support Allatoona's preservation.

Nicholl said the association already has good representation from the south side of the lake but wants to add board members from the Etowah River side of the lake.

"Cherokee has got some really great marinas. There are a lot of homeowners and some big communities," he said. "It makes perfectly good sense to include them in what we are doing."

Betsy Amos, executive director for the association, said she wants to see the group become more active in the community by hosting new events at the lake. She said there has only been one event since she joined last summer - an Oktoberfest festival with live music, vendors and activities for children.

"We want to try to put together more shows that involve different aspects of the lake," she said, such as fishing contests.

Cherokee County Commissioner Harry Johnston said it would be appropriate for the county to be represented on the association board.

"We are all very interested in protecting the lake," Johnston said. "I think their goals are worthy."