O.C.G.A. § 12-5-454

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this part to the contrary, nothing contained in this part shall be construed so as to prohibit any person, firm, or corporation from removing sand from any watercourse without restriction when such removal is accomplished in such a manner that no greater effluent is returned to the watercourse than that removed therefrom and no erosion along the banks of the watercourse occurs.