Corps Again Recycling Christmas Trees

The season of giving continues beyond holiday celebrations as officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Hartwell Lake activate plans to repurpose Christmas trees into fish habitats.

The Corps said it will accept only real Christmas trees for recycling starting today and running through February 1, 2017 at Hartwell Lake.

Drop-off locations around Lake Hartwell include the Big Oaks Recreation Area and Poplar Springs boat ramp in Georgia, Twin Lakes and Friendship boat ramps in South Carolina, and Mount Lebanon Elementary in Pendleton, South Carolina.

As trees are donated, the Corps said that rangers and volunteers will place submerged trees around fishing piers to act as fish attractors and improve fishing habitat.

Hartwell Lake Park Ranger Jess Fleming said that small trees and brush provide cover for fish, particularly as nursery areas for juvenile fish, as well as habitat for aquatic insects which supply essential food during the early stages of most fish species.

Corps officials said all decorations to include tinsel, lights, garland, bulbs, et cetera must be removed from trees before dropping them off.

Also, the dumping of wire frame wreaths, yard debris, and household trash at sites is strictly prohibited.

The Corps said additional trees will be staged at select ramps around the lake to be used by the public.

According to the Corps, trees can be picked up by fishermen any time for personal use until February 1 from any of the Hartwell drop-off locations.

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Hartwell Lake Manager’s Office at 888-893-0678.