SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District’s Forest, Fish, and Wildlife Section at the J. Strom Thurmond Lake and the Hartwell Dam and Lake will accept real Christmas trees for recycling as fish habitat again this season.
Thurmond Lake will accept real trees from Dec. 20, 2024, through Jan. 17, 2025, and Hartwell Lake will accept real trees from Dec. 26, 2024, through Jan. 26, 2025. Artificial trees are not allowed and will not be accepted. All decorations, e.g., tinsel, lights, garland, bulbs, ornaments, etc., must be removed from the trees before dropping them off. Dumping of wireframe wreaths, decorations, yard debris, and household trash is prohibited.
Trees will be tied in bundles, weighted with concrete anchors, and submerged in various locations marked with fish attractor buoys by Corps of Engineers personnel. This creates shelter and food for bait fish which attracts crappie, bass, and sunfish species. Ultimately, the recycled trees benefit the fish as well as the angler. Trees can be dropped at the following locations:
For Hartwell Lake:
Georgia
- Big Oaks boat ramp (Hart County)
- Poplar Springs boat ramp (Franklin County)
South Carolina
- Twin Lakes boat ramp (Pickens County)
- Coneross boat ramp (Oconee County)
- Mount Lebanon Elementary School (Anderson County)
Anglers can pick up recycled trees to create fisheries habitat at a desired location. Christmas Trees should be anchored with concrete blocks at depths of 8-12 feet out of the main navigable channels and away from private docks. For more information, contact Park Ranger Jason Corder at (706) 856-0332.
For Thurmond Lake:
Georgia
- Amity Day Use Area (Boat Ramp Area)
- Keg Creek Boat Ramp (Boat Ramp Area)
South Carolina
- Primary location: Below Dam Day Use Park, by the sign (33.658390, -82.195938) in Clarks Hill, SC.
- Dorn Boat Ramp (Boat Ramp Area)
- Parksville Day Use Area (Boat Ramp Area)
Public anglers can also to pick up recycled trees at Thurmond to create fisheries habitat at a chosen location. Trees should be anchored with concrete blocks at depths of 15-20 feet out of the main navigable channels and away from private docks. For more information, contact Conservation Biologist Evan Brashier at (864)-333-1159 or evan.g.brashier@usace.army.mil.
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