Corps of Engineers Plans for More Closures Should Shutdown Continue
The government shutdown continues to affect parks and recreation areas operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
On the Savannah River District, the Corps announced Thursday that if the shutdown continues through the month of October, Corps-operated parks at Hartwell Lake and J. Strom Thurmond Lake in Clarks Hill, S.C. will close on October 20th.
Corps spokesperson Tracy Robilard said the closings would happen only if the government shutdown continues through the end of the month.
“Right now we don’t know how it’s (government shutdown) will last, but should it last through October, the 20th is when we would have to close Corps-operated parks at Hartwell and Thurmond Lakes,” she said.
If the shutdown continues, at Hartwell Lake, the Springfield, Watsadler, and Twin Lakes campgrounds would remain open until checkout time (2pm) on Oct. 20.
All other campgrounds are already closed in accordance with the normal seasonal closure schedule. Also, all day-use areas and boat ramps that are normally open this time of year would close on Oct. 20 if the shutdown continues.
The Hartwell Visitors Center is already closed during the government shutdown.
At Thurmond Lake, the Petersburg, Leroy’s Ferry, and Bussey Point campgrounds will remain open until checkout time (2pm) on Oct 20.
All day-use areas and boat ramps that are normally open this time of year will close on the 20th. The Thurmond Visitors Center will also close on Oct. 20.
At Russell Lake, Robilard said no recreation areas will be impacted due to the government shutdown.
“All the recreation areas there are managed by the State and local governments, so there’s not an impact to those areas because of the shutdown, but the Russell Visitors’ Center is closed,” she said.
Anyone with campground reservations after October 20th will be able to get a full refund or use that payment towards another time after the shutdown ends.
For more information about Corps-operated recreation areas at Hartwell and Thurmond lakes, you can call the Hartwell Lake and Dam Office at 888-893-0678 or the Thurmond Lake and Dam Office at 800-533-3478.