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Welcome to J. Strom Thurmond

Dam and Lake

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Thurmond Lake is one of the southeast's largest and most popular public recreation lakes. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1946 and 1954 as part of a flood control, hydropower, and navigation project, authorized purposes now include recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management. Each year, millions off people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences -making Thurmond one of the 10 most visited Corps lakes in the nation.

Thurmond Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Broad, and Little Rivers. The lake is created by Thurmond Dam located on the Savannah River twenty-two miles above Augusta Georgia and 239.5 miles above the mouth of the Savannah River. The lake extends 39.4 miles up the Savannah River, 29 miles up the Little River, and 6.5 miles up the Broad River in Georgia, and 17 Miles up the Little River in South Carolina, at normal pool elevation, Thurmond Lake comprises nearly 71,100 acres of water with a shoreline of 1200 miles.

Turn Your Old Christmas Tree into
Fish Habitat!

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Thurmond Lake will accept real Christmas trees for recycling Dec. 20 through Jan. 6, 2009. Christmas trees can be dropped off at Riverside Middle School, located in Evans, Ga. The recycled trees will be used as fish attractors in Thurmond Lake.

Corps rangers and volunteers will be placing submerged trees around fishing piers to improve fishing habitat. Additional trees will be staged at selected ramps around the lake to be used by the public. Anyone wishing to obtain a list of locations where trees will be available can contact the Thurmond Lake Office after January 15^th.

Small trees and brush provide cover for fish, particularly as nursery area for juvenile fish. In addition, they provide habitat for aquatic insects- essential food during the early stages of most fish species life cycles. All decorations (tinsel, lights, etc). must be removed from the trees before dropping them off. Please do not dump any household trash at the site.

For more information or to volunteer, please call the Thurmond Lake Project Office at 1-800-533-3478.

Low Lake Levels Provide Silver Lining for Future Boating Opportunities

Historic low lake levels have enabled the Corps of Engineers to repair and extend numerous boat ramps at Thurmond Lake. During the 1989 drought, lake elevation dropped to 312.79 MSL and the Corps of Engineers extended many ramps. With present low lake levels the Corps is once again repairing, extending, and removing siltation from many ramps on the lake. These extensions will not make the ramps usable immediately but the ramps will become usable sooner as lake levels recover.

Ramp repairs were recently completed at Mt. Carmel day-use, Rosseau Creek, Dordon Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Cherokee and Petersburg. Ramps that have been extended include Amity, Cherokee, Chamberlain Ferry, Leroys Ferry and Double Branches. Ramp extensions are planned for Modoc campground and Morrahs, and an additional lane will be added at Modoc 7 day use ramp. Remaining repairs and extensions are dependent upon lake level changes.

New ramp elevations are being continually updated on our web page as construction is completed. For ramp elevations CLICK HERE or a list of ramps that are currently open, CLICK HERE. Boaters are reminded to use extreme caution due to the continued low lake levels. And don’t forget to WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET

Park Attendant Bid Packages Information

Interested in being a Campground Park Attendant at Thurmond or Hartwell Lake?

Hartwell Lake has 12 Park Attendant positions available and Thurmond Lake has two Park Attendant and one Park Attendant/Caretaker position available for 2009. All positions require a minimum of two adults at least 18 years old who are mentally and physically able to meet contract requirements. These positions collect fees, register campers, issue various passes, answer questions and disseminate information, open and close gates, maintain a reservation system, and other related activities at one campground. Caretaker position includes Park Attendant responsibilities and additional park cleaning and maintenance activities. You must be capable of working independently without day-to-day supervision and must supply your own presentable, factory-built, self-contained camping unit and must live on-site while on duty.

Campground Park Attendant and Park Attendant/Caretaker positions are contracted positions. Bids for these positions must be submitted by December, 18th 2008.

For more information and to obtain bid package information, click HERE. To view a letter of instruction (pdf)click HERE .

Questions? For Hartwell positions: 888-893-0678, for Thurmond Lake positions: 800-533-3478

Annual Day Use Passes

Available

Annual passes for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day use areas are available. The passes are $30 each and are valid for one year from the date of purchase. The pass allows unlimited nationwide use of all day use fee areas managed by the Corps. Passes may be purchased in person at the J. Strom Thurmond Lake Visitor Center (using cash, check or credit card), by phone (using credit card) toll-free at 800-533-3478, or by mail (using check or credit card). Annual passes are also available at Belvedere Marine and Sportsman's Corner in North Augusta, SC, Cliatts Crossing in Lincolnton, GA and West Marine in Martinez, GA and also at the Russell and Hartwell Lake Offices.

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