SAVANNAH, Ga. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District will waive day-use fees at the recreation areas it operates at lakes Thurmond, Russell, and Hartwell on the upper Savannah River as part of National Public Lands Day, Sept. 29. On this day, fees normally charged at Corps boat launch ramps and picnic areas will be waived.

The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters. State and local agencies and partners that manage recreation areas located at Savannah District reservoirs are encouraged but not required to participate with this waiver of day-use fees in the areas they manage.

The Savannah District is coordinating cleanup activities at its three dam and reservoir projects on the upper Savannah River.

"There is still time to volunteer for cleanup activities and service projects at these locations," said Chrissy Westerberg, a senior park ranger with the Savannah District. Groups and individuals can contact the lake office to sign up and be a part of National Public Lands Day.

"National Public Lands Day showcases our nation’s public lands and the importance of protecting natural resources through responsible use and volunteerism," Westerberg said. Volunteering on National Public Lands Day is one way to answer President Barack Obama's call to service and play a role in supporting America’s Great Outdoors Initiative, an effort to promote the conservation of outdoor spaces and reconnect Americans to the outdoors, according to a statement from the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C.

In addition, volunteers who participate in one of the Corps’ National Public Lands Day activities will be issued a fee-free coupon. The fee-free coupon is valid for one year from date of issue and may be used for one day of entrance or day-use fees at any participating federal agency park, forest or recreation area that charges either of these types of fees, according to Westerberg.

Nationwide, thousands of local volunteers will support the more than 110 Corps sites participating in this year’s 19th annual National Public Lands Day, the largest annual volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind. Across America volunteers will take part in tree planting, erosion control, bank stabilization, building trails, restoring recreation areas, trash pickup, removing invasive species and non-native plants, improving wildlife habitats, harvesting prairie plant seeds and rehabilitating playgrounds.

The Corps has participated in National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994 and has consistently been one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. As the nation’s leading federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, the Army Corps of Engineers manages 422 lake and river projects in 43 states.

"There is so much to do, see, and learn at the Savannah District lakes while helping us make these areas a better place for everyone on National Public Lands Day," Westerberg said. "It’s great to be a part of this event."

For more information about volunteering for National Public Lands Day contact Hartwell Lake at (888) 893-0678, Russell Lake at (80 0) 914-7207 or Thurmond Lake at (800) 533-3478.