As the temperatures rise and summer shifts into full gear, the recreation areas along the Savannah River Basin are, too.

And while it’s still early in the season, Chrissy Alford, recreation chief ranger at J. Strom Thurmond Dam & Lake, has already noticed a difference.

“We’ve definitely had a lot of visitation compared to last year,” Alford said. “In May alone the numbers are up 20 percent.”

Alford attributed the uptick in visitors to the warm weather and the fact that the lake is sitting at full pool.

More than 70 miles upriver, Scott Kelley, natural resource program manager at Hartwell Dam and Lake, has a similar experience.

“It’s been really busy thus far,” Kelley said. “Weekend traffic has been heavy. Campgrounds and day-use areas seem busier than normal.”

And as if the prime conditions weren’t enough, special events at the recreation areas will give the public more reasons to enjoy the outdoors.

At Hartwell next week, June 27 from 8-10 p.m., the Hart County Chamber of Commerce will host a Pre-Fourth of July celebration at Big Oaks, which will include a fireworks display, along with myriad vendors selling everything from shave ice to barbecue to boiled peanuts.

Meanwhile, three Fourth of July events are in the works at Thurmond.

Thurmond Lake Sail & Power Squadron is planning a boat parade and beach party for July 4. The event will start at Dorn Fishing Facility, continue to Plum Branch Yacht Club, and finish at Savannah Lakes Marina Beach with a beach party. Smaller events at Thomson Boat Club, July 3, and Soap Creek Marina, July 11, are still in the planning phases.

Alford also said she and her team at Thurmond are starting to gear up for National Public Lands Day, held annually the last Saturday in September. On this day, volunteers focus on service projects to beautify a designated area in a park.

Last year, Alford said more than 200 people sanded picnic tables, trimmed underbrush and picked up litter at Thurmond’s West Dam Recreation Area.

With all the fun in the sun, though, officials are reminding the public to enjoy the outdoors safely.

In February, Hartwell recorded one recreation-related fatality while four drownings at Thurmond stunned park employees and visitors before the midpoint of the recreation season.

Wearing properly sized lifejackets can thwart these preventable deaths, said Corps National Water Safety Program Manager Pam J. Doty.

“Guests should make sure life jackets are buckled and sized properly,” Doty said. “Children should not wear life jackets that are too large because it will slip over their head if they fall in the water and they could drown. Life jackets are categorized by a person’s weight, so check the label and test it to make sure it fits snug.”

David Quebedeaux, a Corps park ranger at Thurmond, has already responded to several water-related accidents this year.

“We retrieved a couple of guys out of the lake who were lucky,” he said. “They didn’t have their life jackets on, but they were able to grab them as the boat was capsizing. They admitted if they did not have those life jackets, they would’ve drowned.”

At all Savannah Corps lake sites, visitors swim at their own risk. The Corps encourages adults to watch children because most people drown within 10 feet of safety.

If scorching temperatures continue through the summer, finding resourceful ways to beat the heat will be as important as remaining safe while in the water.

Stay hydrated by drinking cool water, wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing, apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. When camping, swimming or lounging at your favorite day-use area, find shady areas to cool-off, rest and recharge.

For the full scoop on upcoming events, contact the recreation area’s visitor center: Hartwell, J. Strom Thurmond, and Richard B. Russell. Find more heat safety tips at the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention website.

Editor’s Note: Chelsea Smith contributed reporting.

~Jeremy S. Buddemeier, Corporate Communications Office

– See more at: http://balancingthebasin.armylive.dodlive.mil/2015/06/17/lakes-prepare-for-busy-summer/#more-2047

The 4-H2O Camp is a day camp offered for youth ages 9-13. Lake Hartwell and local streams serve as the setting for this nature resources program.

The day camp will be held at the Clemson Outdoor Lab, 415 Charlie White Trail, Pendleton SC 29670. Registration is $75.00 includes program supplies, snack and daily lunch. You must be a 4-H Member to participate. Join 4-H for a cost of $10 (includes a 4-H t-shirt). Registration is limited to 18 paid registrants. Camp spots are secured when completed form and fee is received by the Pickens County Extension office. Registration fees can only be refunded under extenuating circumstances. Camp is rain or shine.

Registration Deadline: July 20th

Make checks payable to Clemson University. Registration is currently open.

registration form: www.clemson.edu/extension/4h2o/_files/2015_lake_hartwell4h2o_flyer.pdf

Lunch, snacks, drinks, program supplies and materials will be provided

Please bring:

• sunscreen
• swimsuit
• towel
• close toed shoes
• play clothes that can get dirty
• required medications
• cell phone are not encouraged, but if brought, must be off and stored away

Please do NOT bring:

• toys
• electronic devices (games, iPod, radio, etc)
• jewelry
• clothing with profanity or inappropriate graphics

Campers must be dropped off and picked up on time each day. Campers also must have breakfast before they arrive. We are busy and active and they will need energy for all day activities!

If your child has special needs, allergies, or other considerations please contact the 4-H agent BEFORE camp starts so we are aware and prepared.

Contact information

Way back in February, I gave my “Groundhog Day” reservoir predictions for Memorial Day, the beginning of the summer recreation season. Let’s see how I did this year:

That month started with the reservoirs slightly below winter guide curve but slowly climbing, as was the guide curve. Actual observed reservoir levels chased the guide curve until the curve reached “full summer pool” of 660 feet above mean sea level at Hartwell Lake and 330 ft-msl at Thurmond Lake.

The levels, however, didn’t stop when the guide curve stopped rising. Hartwell and Thurmond lakes moved slightly into flood storage – levels above full summer pool early in May.

It helped when our contractor completed gate repairs a little early at Thurmond Dam. This allowed water managers to keep filling the reservoir above 329 ft-msl.

Although Thurmond Lake today has a level a few inches below full pool, inflows and rains continue to feed the reservoir. Hartwell Lake remains slightly above full pool.

One reservoir slightly above full, one slightly below on Memorial Day – In effect, that makes for a full system to begin the recreation season.

I think this good start came about because I saw my shadow on Feb. 2 – or maybe because I didn’t see it.

I’m approaching retirement age and my memory sometimes fails me. (Just ask my boss, Mr. uh, uh, bossman.) All in all, my predictions in February turned out well. I’ll count that as one more in the “win” column.

On a serious note, I watch with deep concern for my friends in Texas, including my college towns of San Marcos and Austin, where flash floods continue to devastate communities and take lives.

While the Corps of Engineers can never eliminate flooding, the Corps works hard to reduce the risks all across America. Reducing the risk of flooding in the Savannah River basin remains a top priority for the Savannah District.

Our water managers, dam operators and emergency managers continue their vigilance to keep the residents of this basin safe.

Remember Texas today.

– Billy Birdwell, Corporate Communications Office