Corps Looking for Help on Keeping Lake Hartwell Clean

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Hartwell Association continue to look for volunteers to help keep Lake Hartwell clean.

Both groups are inviting local residents, scout groups, civic clubs, and others to volunteer to join year-round efforts in maintaining a clean and inviting environment for all lake visitors.

Historically, the Corps has organized a yearly clean-up of Lake Hartwell in the Fall.

However, Corps Natural Resource Specialist Dustin Cullen said the Corps kicked off this year’s event in the Spring around Earth Day as it transitioned to a year-long continuous clean-up campaign.

“People called in and would sign up and they would have areas they already cleaned up or if they needed an area, I would provide an area,” said Cullen of the past.

He said the kick-off week for this new continuous effort started in April.

April’s “Clean Up Green Up” campaign brought out more than 300 volunteers who collected over 3,000 pounds of debris from Lake Hartwell’s shoreline and water.

Cullen said that continuing those clean-up efforts that started in April throughout the year has multiple benefits.

“Lake Hartwell, being one of the top-visited Corps of Engineers lakes in the country, there are always people out and trash seems to appear,” said Cullen. “It is always appearing. Once you clean it up, there is something else that needs to be picked up.”

He called it a pretty tall task to keep the shorelines clean on Lake Hartwell.

“We need extra hands,” said Cullen.

Cullen went on to say that anyone who is interested in volunteering to help clean up Lake Hartwell can contact him for more information.

“If you already know a place you have in mind or that you have done in the past, that is fine, or if you need a place, we have a priority list of targeted areas that we would like people to help us,” said Cullen. “That way, we do not have everybody trying to clean up the same spot.”

Cullen’s number is 706-856-0311.

He said another appreciation picnic to thank volunteers for their clean-up efforts will take place next April.

Cullen said the Corps appreciates all of the volunteers and those who sponsor the clean-up effort or donate things to help make it happen.