Savannah District News Releases

Final Thurmond Lake campground ready to reopen since Hurricane Helene

Press Operations — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:56:00 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Savannah District, is reopening Ridge Road Campground Wednesday, May 20, 2026, marking the final campground to be restored and reopened at J. Strom Thurmond Lake since Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024.

New Real-Time Water Tool Offers Precision Planning for Savannah River Basin Users

Press Operations — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:02:18 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, has launched a streamlined digital dashboard designed to give boaters, homeowners, and stakeholders instant access to critical water management data across the Savannah River Basin.

Temporary closures at West Dam Recreation Area on J. Strom Thurmond Lake

Press Operations — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:55:39 GMT

CLARKS HILL, S.C. – Effective immediately, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, will have temporary closures at the J. Strom Thurmond Lake West Dam Day Use area for the next few weeks, Monday through Thursday, while beach and playground sand is delivered and spread inside the park.

Spencer Artillery Range FUDS property virtual public meeting set for April 29

Press Operations — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:52:05 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is holding a virtual public meeting to discuss the Remedial Action (land use controls) completed for Project 01 at Spencer Artillery Range, a Formerly Used Defense Sites property located 10 miles southeast of McMinnville, Tennessee.

Register now for the Richard B. Russell Lake 36th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby

Press Operations — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:55:20 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is hosting the 36th Annual Kid’s Fishing Derby Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Richard B. Russell Lake.

Some 2026 Summer Recreation Areas Open today at J. Strom Thurmond Lake

Press Operations — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:50:51 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is opening the following campgrounds and day use areas for the 2026 summer recreation season at J. Strom Thurmond Lake today.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks public comments on potential future changes to the nationwide permits

Press Operations — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on March 16 that it is seeking input from all interested parties on ways to increase the efficiency of the nationwide permit program.

Corps of Engineers holds Camp Butner FUDS property public meeting virtually March 19

Press Operations — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:38:38 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is holding a virtual meeting to discuss the Remedial Action (land use controls) completed for Projects 04, 05 and 11 at Camp Butner, a Formerly Used Defense Sites property located 15 miles north of Durham, North Carolina.

Winfield, Petersburg Campgrounds reopen at Thurmond Lake for 2026 reservations

Press Operations — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:05:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, has reopened reservations through Recreation.gov for Winfield and Petersburg Campgrounds for the 2026 recreation season, effective March 9, 2026. Following the damage left behind by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, many campgrounds were closed until repairs could be made. Camping season starts March 27, and campgrounds will be open through Sept. 13, 2026.

Russell Dam Overlook Road closure supports Lake Russell Hustle 5K race

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:01:36 GMT

Elberton, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake Project, in coordination with the Lake Russell Hustle organizers, will close the Russel Dam Overlook Road for 24 hours beginning at 2 p.m. March 13, 2026, for the 5K race taking place March 14.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Savannah District stands ready to deliver innovative solutions in support of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork” initiative

Press Operations — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:18:00 GMT

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works announces “Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork”

Corps of Engineers remains committed to safe cleanup at Buxton FUDS property

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:29:47 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Even as repeated winter storms continue to impact the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, remains committed to environmentally responsible practices designed to protect the surrounding coastal resources and presses ahead with the petroleum cleanup project at the former Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) property.

Parksville Boat Ramp at Thurmond Lake temporarily closed for paving repairs

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:25:05 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake Project Office will temporarily close the Parksville Boat Ramp in McCormick County, South Carolina, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, for a patch repair paving project.

Corps of Engineers announces 2026 turkey hunting dates at Bussey Point CMU

Press Operations — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:28:15 GMT

Clarks Hill, S.C. - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is pleased to announce that the Bussey Point Corps Management Unit (CMU) at J. Strom Thurmond Project will be open for spring turkey hunting this season, the first hunts held in the area since 2019.

Upper Savannah River Reservoirs Enter Drought Level 2

Press Operations — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:18:00 GMT

The three reservoirs on the upper Savannah River Basin operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, declared the second flow reduction in less than two months in response to the pool elevation at Lake Thurmond dipping below Drought Trigger Level 2, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2026.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces finalization of nationwide permits

Press Operations — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:54:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will reissue 56 existing nationwide permits and issue one new permit for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. One existing permit will not be reissued.

Bussey Point and Leroys Ferry Campgrounds reopen at Thurmond Lake

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:47:00 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, has completed repairs and is now reopening Bussey Point and Leroys Ferry Campgrounds, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.

Thurmond Lake accepting real Christmas trees soon for recycling program

Press Operations — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:26:31 GMT

CLARKS HILL, S.C. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, is inviting the public to recycle natural Christmas trees for use in fisheries habitat enhancement at J. Strom Thurmond Lake. The annual recycling program will run from Dec. 20, 2025, through Jan. 18, 2026.

Upper Savannah River Reservoirs Enter Drought Trigger Level 1

Press Operations — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:55:00 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – In response to the pool elevation at Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond Lakes dropping, the three reservoirs on the Upper Savannah River operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, have triggered the first drought trigger level Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, and transitioned to drought releases at Thurmond over the weekend.

Recycle real Christmas trees at Hartwell Lake for fish habitat

Press Operations — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:50:04 GMT

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District’s Forest, Fish, and Wildlife Section at the Hartwell Dam and Lake will accept real Christmas trees for recycling as fish habitat again this season, beginning Dec. 26, 2025, through Jan. 26, 2026.