Lake Hartwell Corps of Engineers accepting Christmas tree donations

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Project Office will accept natural Christmas trees (no artificial trees) for recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 25, 2019.

Jess Fleming, who is over the fisheries department at the Lake Hartwell Corps of Engineers office, says there are a number of places trees can be dropped off.

Fleming says trees can be dropped off now through Jan. 25.

Christmas trees can be taken to four Lake Hartwell locations including Big Oaks Recreation Area and Poplar Springs Boat Ramp, both in Georgia; and Twin Lakes Boat Ramp and Friendship Boat Ramp in South Carolina.

The recycled trees will be used as fish attractors in Hartwell Lake.

Fleming says they’ll pick up the donated trees and sink them in various locations around the lake, some of which are marked with fish attractor buoys.

Small trees and brush provide cover for fish, particularly as nursery areas for juvenile fish. In addition, they provide habitat for aquatic insects which serve as an essential food source during the early developmental stages of most fish species.

For more information, contact the Hartwell Lake Operations Project Manager’s Office toll free 888-893-0678.