SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office is accepting natural Christmas trees (no artificial trees) for recycling beginning Dec. 26, 2021, through Jan. 26, 2022.
Christmas trees can be dropped off at designated donation sites at Big Oaks and Poplar Springs boat ramps in Georgia and in South Carolina at Twin Lakes and Coneross Creek boat ramps, as well as Mount Lebanon Elementary School in Pendleton.
All ornaments and tinsel must be removed prior to donation. The recycled trees are used as fish attractors in Hartwell Lake. Trees are tied in bundles, weighted with concrete anchors, and submerged in various locations and marked with fish attractor buoys.
Also, donated trees can be picked up by fishermen at any time for personal use. However, trees should be anchored in 8-12 feet of water, but not in the main lake channel or around private docks.
“Small trees and brush provide cover for fish and nursery areas for juvenile fish,” Jess Fleming, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Specialist at Hartwell Lake, said. “In addition, they provide habitat for aquatic insects which serve as an essential food source during the early developmental stages of most fish species.”
For more information, contact the Hartwell Lake Operations Project Manager’s Office toll free 1-888- 893-0678, or visit the website at Hartwell. For a list of fish attractor locations and GPS coordinates, check them out online at AttractorCoordinates.
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Release no. 21-030