Lots to Do This Weekend on Lake Hartwell

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

It should be smooth sailing on Lake Hartwell this weekend, despite lower lake levels.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Billy Birdwell said campgrounds and picnic areas are open this weekend all around the lake.

“There’s so much you can do this weekend,” Birdwell said. “There’s water skiing, boating, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking. We want everyone to come out and have a really good time because there’s lots of things to do on our reservoirs.”

And if you plan to be out on the water this weekend, remember Corps rangers as well as DNR law enforcement on both sides of the lake will also be out in force checking boating registrations, licenses and watching for impaired boaters.

Birdwell said they will also be checking to make sure there are plenty of life jackets on board your boat and that all children are wearing them.

“Wear that life jacket anytime you are in or near the water,” Birdwell said. “Most of the time, people who drowned never expected to go into the water. They either fell off a dock or boat or were out wading and stepped into a deep hole. The bottom of the reservoirs are very uneven so wear that life jacket.”

And if you need extra life jackets or just don’t have them, you can go to the Georgia side at Tugaloo State Park’s mega ramp where you will find a free life jacket lending station courtesy of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.

The life jackets come in all sizes and are free to use for the day, just remember to return them to the station when your boating fun is over.