The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District hosted volunteer activities throughout the Savannah River Basin in honor of the 20th Annual National Public Lands Day, Sept. 28, 2013.
National Public Lands Day is a nationwide observance where millions of Americans volunteer in support of federal, state and locally-owned public lands and parks.
Corps employees at the District Headquarters in Savannah volunteered in partnership with the National Parks Service at Fort Pulaski. Savannah District Commander Col. Thomas Tickner joined Corps employees to help pick up trash around the park and perform trail maintenance.
This year, 180,000 volunteers participated in National Public Lands Day activities at more than 2,100 sites around the nation. Those sites also included public lands owned and operated by the Corps' Savannah District—lakes Hartwell, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom Thurmond.
The Corps hosted clean-up campaigns throughout the weeks leading up to National Public Lands Day at all three lakes. Schools, scout troops, civic groups and community members volunteered at all three lakes to clean up trash around the shorelines, recreation areas and islands.
Additionally, the Hartwell and Thurmond projects hosted volunteer appreciation picnics on National Public Lands Day to thank volunteers for all their hard work.
See more photos from each of these events under "Related Links."