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.
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 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 and 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:
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.