Hartwell Lake is one of the southeast’s largest and most popular public recreation lakes. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963, the authorized purposes are flood risk management, water quality, water supply, downstream navigation, hydropower production, fish and wildlife protection, and recreation. Each year, millions of people utilize the many public parks, marinas, and campgrounds conveniently located around the lake to pursue a variety of outdoor recreational experiences –making Hartwell one of the most visited Corps lakes in the nation [READ MORE].
***2016 Shoreline Management Regulation Changes Effective 01 January 2016***
UPDATE: Irrigation prohibition suspended until further notice
In response to a high-volume of stakeholder feedback, as well as input from adjacent landowners in a recent meeting, officials from the Corps’ South Atlantic Division (SAD) have announced suspension of the new policy change prohibiting minor water withdrawals at lakes across the division. The suspension serves to allow further review of the policy and its implications for adjacent shoreline residents.
Districts have been directed to suspend the implementation of the policy effective immediately until the review is complete and further guidance is issued.
The new rule prohibiting use of reservoir water for irrigation was part of an update (announced Dec. 28 here) on shoreline use rules that took effect Jan. 1 for reservoirs within the Corps’ South Atlantic Region. The policy suspension only applies to the part of the new rule forbidding use of reservoir water for shoreline irrigation.
As always we welcome questions, and will do our best to answer them during this review. As new details about the results of the review are available, we will share them in future posts.
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HARTWELL, Ga. – Spring cleaning on and around Hartwell Lake kicks off with the Lake Hartwell Clean-up, Green-up environmental restoration effort April 15-22. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Lake Hartwell Association (LHA), a non-profit organization that promotes cooperation, assistance and information exchange among those concerned with Hartwell Lake, facilitate the week-long campaign in association with Earth Day. SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Project Office will temporarily close the Spring Branch Access Area in Stephens County, Georgia, on Feb. 8, 2017 to make major repairs to the boat launching ramp. The area is expected to be closed for approximately three weeks and should reopen by March 1, 2017, weather permitting. SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Project Office will indefinitely close Durham Recreation Area, located in Anderson County, S.C., on Jan. 23, 2017, for construction of a water treatment plant.
A look back at 2016 provides insight into how the Savannah River Basin reached Drought Level 2 and the conditions we’ll need for a full recovery
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The season of giving continues beyond holiday celebrations as officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hartwell Lake and J. Strom Thurmond projects activate plans to repurpose Christmas trees into fish habitats. Officials will accept only real Christmas trees for recycling Dec. 26 through Feb. 1, 2017 at Hartwell and Dec. 20 through Jan. 11, 2017 at Thurmond. HARTWELL, Ga. – Construction of a new gate house, traffic island and road widening on Twin Lakes Road may cause delays for a few weeks. SAVANNAH, Ga. – Day use fees will be waived at Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond projects for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as a small token of appreciation for bold sacrifices. 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:
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Paynes Creek Park, Hart County, GA. (399 acres)
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Hartwell Dam Quarry Area, Hart County, GA. (410 acres)
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New Prospect Park, Hart County, GA. (34 acres)
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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.
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Hartwell Lake Office
5625 Anderson Hwy
Hartwell, GA 30643-5259
Phone Numbers
706-856-0300 or toll free at
1-888-893-0678
Caption
Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo, and Seneca Rivers. The lake is created by Hartwell Dam located on the Savannah River seven miles below the point at which the Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers join to form the Savannah. Extending 49 miles up the Tugaloo and 45 miles up the Seneca at normal pool elevation, Hartwell Lake comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. The entire Hartwell “Project” contains 76,450 acres of land and water.
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