SAVANNAH DISTRICT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The three reservoirs operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the upper Savannah River entered Drought Level 2 as of 6 a.m. Sept. 19, when the level of the J. Strom Thurmond Lake dipped to 323.97 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). When one of the reservoirs enters a drought level the other two also enter that drought level.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – As the 2016 summer recreation season draws to a close, officials with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers released the annual fall park closing schedule for Hartwell Lake.

Coneross, Georgia River, Oconee Point, and Paynes Creek Campgrounds will close for the season Oct. 1. Crescent and Springfield Campgrounds will close Nov. 1. Twin Lakes and Watsadler Campgrounds will undergo partial closure starting Dec. 1, however selected sites/loops remain open year round.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Spring’s arrival signals the renewal of Lake Hartwell’s annual cleanup initiative, Clean Up Green Up, occurring April 18-25. The Savannah District Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office and the Lake Hartwell Association (LHA) collaborate to usher in this new effort.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office will open four of its larger recreation areas for archery and small game hunting during the regular 2016-2017 Georgia hunting season. These areas include:

• Paynes Creek Park, Hart County, GA. (399 acres)

• Hartwell Dam Quarry Area, Hart County, GA. (410 acres)

• New Prospect Park, Hart County, GA. (34 acres)

• Jenkins Ferry Park, Stephens County, GA. (31 acres)

SAVANNAH, Ga. –The three reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered the first drought level today when pool elevation at Thurmond Lake dipped below 326 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). Entering Trigger Level 1 activates the Corps’ drought management plan which limits the discharge rate from the Thurmond Dam.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Advocates of the lake seeking a volunteer opportunity are invited to apply for two positions at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Project site for the 2016 recreation season.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Project Office announces the opening of the following campgrounds and day use areas on April 1:

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Volunteers are still needed for Hartwell Lake’s spring Clean Up Green Up campaign occurring April 16-23. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Lake Office and the Lake Hartwell Association (LHA) partner annually to bring the “spring cleaning” effort to the lake’s shoreline and islands.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Every year thousands of people in the United States mourn the loss of loved ones who could have survived if they had been wearing a life jacket while spending time on or near our nation’s waters. To heighten awareness for the use of life jackets, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently launched a new water safety campaign titled “Life Jackets Worn … Nobody Mourns.” The campaign targets adult men as the higher-risk demographic. The effort was developed by USACE, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers Natural Resources and Education Foundation, a non-profit foundation established to support USACE natural resources and recreation programs.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Project Office and Lake Hartwell Association will kick-off the annual Lake Hartwell Clean Up Green Up initiative in conjunction with Earth Day April 16-23. Organizers of the lake restoration event seek volunteers to pick up litter and other non-natural debris on and around Hartwell Lake.

Due to recent above-normal rainfall in the upper Savannah River Basin, Savannah District anticipates a need to operate the spillway gates early on the morning of Dec. 31 at the three major dams in the Savannah River system: Hartwell Dam, Richard B. Russell Dam and J. Strom Thurmond Dam.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The new year ushers in changes to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District fee structure for recreation day use at boat launches and swimming beaches managed by USACE. Fees for USACE annual passes to these facilities will also change.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Shoreline use rules for Hartwell Lake and Thurmond Lake in northeast Georgia and northwest South Carolina will change effective Jan. 1, 2016, according to Corps of Engineers officials here.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Every year thousands of people in the United States mourn the loss of loved ones who could have survived if they had been wearing a life jacket while spending time on or near our nation’s waters. To heighten awareness for the use of life jackets, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recently launched a new water safety campaign titled “Life Jackets Worn … Nobody Mourns.” The campaign targets adult men as the higher-risk demographic. The effort was developed by USACE, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers Natural Resources and Education Foundation, a non-profit foundation established to support USACE natural resources and recreation programs.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Project Office and Lake Hartwell Association will kick-off the annual Lake Hartwell Clean Up Green Up initiative in conjunction with Earth Day April 16-23. Organizers of the lake restoration event seek volunteers to pick up litter and other non-natural debris on and around Hartwell Lake.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The US Army Corps of Engineers, Hartwell Lake Office will hold a special deer hunt in cooperation with the Paralyzed Veterans of America Nov. 23 - 24 at the Quarry Hunting Area. The area is located adjacent to the Hartwell Operations Project Manager’s Office near the intersection of Highways 181 & 29 in Georgia. The Corps will temporarily close the area for general public hunting to accommodate the hunt.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Day use fees will be waived on recreation areas at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Thurmond and Hartwell lakes for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District will waive all day use fees for visitors during Fee-Free Day Sept. 26, held in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. NPLD volunteers are additionally eligible to receive a fee-free coupon valid for one year from the issue date.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District invites fourth-graders and their families to partake in the Every Kid in a Park initiative at Hartwell and Thurmond lakes. The newly launched federal program will provide all fourth-grade students and their families with free admission to Savannah Corps’ recreational areas and more than 2,000 federally managed sites nationwide.

SAVANNAH, Ga. –The three reservoirs on the Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered the first drought level early Sunday morning when pool elevation at J. Strom Thurmond Lake dipped to 325.91 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). Entering Trigger Level 1 activates the Corps’drought management plan which limits the discharge rate from the Thurmond Dam.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office will open four recreation areas for archery and small game hunting during the regular 2015-2016 Georgia hunting season. These areas include:

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Project Office will close the walking trail located above the South Carolina earthen embankment section of the dam beginning Monday, Aug. 17. The area, located in Anderson County, South Carolina, will be closed for routine maintenance activity and is expected to re-open by Aug. 21.

HARTWELL LAKE, Ga. – Lake Hartwell Clean Up Green Up efforts are still underway though the initial cleanup event has ended. The Savannah Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office and the Lake Hartwell Association (LHA) invite local residents, scout groups, civic clubs, and other potential volunteers to join year-round efforts in maintaining a clean and inviting environment for all lake visitors.