Corps Introduces New Shoreline Use Rules

The New Year is bringing changes to the shoreline use rules for both Hartwell Lake and Thurmond Lake.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials say the changes impact property owners adjacent to these two Savannah District reservoirs and took effect on January 1.

Corps Spokesman Russell Wicke said the first update changes the size of brush which can be removed along the shore.

“The biggest change I think people will notice is when underbrushing, the change to three inches in diameter for cutting a tree or a piece of brush. The previous limit was four inches,” said Wicke.

That change affects people with a permit to remove underbrush along their property line to the water’s edge.

The Corps said it is being done to protect habitat of the northern long-eared bat, a recently listed threatened species.

A second new rule now forbids the use of reservoir water for irrigation.

Wicke said this change will impact all property owners at both Hartwell and Thurmond Lakes who have a permit to pump water for their lawns and gardens and other uses.

“A lot of people who live near the shoreline before were using pumps to draw water from the reservoir to water their grass and things of that nature,” said Wicke. “This is not actually a change in the policy. They are just now enforcing federal terms on what reservoirs are supposed to be used for.”

Wicke said this does not affect those with water storage agreements for things like commercial usage.

Corps officials did say that water may still be pumped from the reservoirs to wash permitted docks and boats moored at docks so long as the water falls back into the reservoir.

Also, Shoreline Use Permit holders with current authority to irrigate from the reservoir may continue to do so until the expiration of their current Shoreline Use Permit.

The third and final rule change announced by the Corps deals with Shoreline Use Permits.

Wicke said it is merely an administrative change.

“Just note we are no longer going to allow the use of consolidated permit and license,” said Wicke. “All new shoreline usage permits and licenses and future renewals will require separate forms. This brings the Savannah project into compliance with our regional headquarters.”

The Corps said both documents will require the applicant to provide a taxpayer identification number, which for most people is their Social Security number.

Corps officials said this identification number will not be stored or transmitted electronically.

For more information on these or other Shoreline Use Permit questions, contact the Hartwell Project Office at 888-893-0678.