Corps Cuts More Visitor Services at Hartwell Lake Parks

Continued budget cuts at the federal level are once again forcing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce park operations and visitor services around Hartwell Lake this summer season.

According to the Savannah River District office, the Corps will keep closed one primitive campground and partially close six day use areas for the 2013 season in addition to maintaining the reductions in park seasons and service levels implemented in 2012.

“Alternatives considered to maintaining park operations and acceptable visitor services within funding limitations included complete park closures, partial closures, season reductions, and reduced visitor services” said Peggy O’Bryan, Chief of the Operations Division for the Savannah District. “Durin! g 2012, the Hartwell Project was able to avoid complete closures of recreation areas by reducing service levels and reducing operating seasons to lower overall operations and maintenance costs. Unfortunately, continued funding constraints and uncertainties have resulted in further actions for the 2013 season.”

Last year was the first time, the Corps cut hours and closed campgrounds due to budget cuts.

At the time, Kenneth Bedenbaugh, Program Manager for Recreation at the Hartwell Lake Office, said they just don’t have enough funding from the federal government to operate.

“In order to focus on keeping the parks open during the prime recreation season of May through September, we’ve had to take some actions to reduce the seasons on some parks, to reduce some operations and maintenance costs to live within the budgets that we have,” Bedenbaugh said.

O’Bryan said continued funding contstraints and uncertainties have resulted in further actions for the 2013 season.

And as they did last year, Bedenbaugh said the reduction in service levels includes reducing frequency in cleaning, mowing, water safety outreach, trash collection and some maintenance.

According to O’Bryan, for the 2013 season, Milltown Campground will remain closed.

Poplar Springs and Friendship Day Use Areas will be partially closed during 2013.   Boat ramps at those two locations, however will remain open, but all day-use sections/loops will remain closed. 

Long Point, Stephens County, Mullins Ford, and Lawrence Bridge Recreation Areas will be operated as pack-in/pack-out areas. 

There will be no restroom facilities or trash pick-up services at these locations, but other facilities such as picnic sites and boat ramps will be open for use during the 2013 season. 

Displaced visitors are encouraged to use other Corps-operated parks that remain open or areas operated by state and local governments or commercial concessionaires.

For the most current information on Hartwell Lake park seasons, visit the Savannah District website at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/ then choose the “Recreation” icon, or call the Hartwell Dam and Lake Office toll free at 888-893-0678.