This summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District is giving the public another reason to be safe while enjoying the great outdoors.

As part of its ‘Wear It to Win It’ campaign, the Corps will award prizes each week to individuals who demonstrate creativity and class while wearing their life jackets.

Entering the contest is simple: Post a photo of yourself, family members or friends wearing a life vest on the Savannah District’s Facebook page or tweet it to @SavannahCorps with the hashtag #WearIt.

Each Wednesday from June 1 through July 10, the Savannah District’s Corporate Communications Office will choose one winning photo from those submitted during the previous calendar week.

Prizes include a choice of either a two-night camping stay or a picnic shelter reservation and day-use pass to Corps-managed facilities at Hartwell Lake and J. Strom Thurmond Lake.

Additionally, winners will receive a Coast Guard-approved Type IV personal floatation device and a distress whistle courtesy of Sea Tow Clarks Hill/Thurmond Lake. Winners will be announced and notified via the social media site on which they submitted the photo.

Photos will be judged based on subject matter, creativity and overall emphasis on water safety.

Note: Savannah District employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the contest.

For questions about the Wear It to Win It campaign, contact Jeremy Buddemeier at 912-652-5450 or email Jeremy.S.Buddemeier@usace.army.mil.

– See more at: http://balancingthebasin.armylive.dodlive.mil/2015/05/14/wear-it-to-win-it-2015/#more-2005

The rain event that occurred Sunday, April 19, caused both Hartwell and Thurmond to exceed the limits of conservation storage (almost simultaneously) as water levels rose into flood storage territory. As of this writing, Hartwell’s elevation has climbed more than six inches above the conservation threshold (660.51 feet above mean sea level) and Thurmond follows close behind.

Although it was a moderate rain event, the ground was already saturated from a slow but steady drizzle of (almost) daily precipitation for the past two weeks. The saturated conditions resulted in fairly high rainfall-to-runoff ratio, making the reservoir levels more responsive to rain.

The timing of the rain event was noteworthy considering the last time both Hartwell and Thurmond recorded levels in the flood storage range was April 19, 2014 – exactly one year ago from Sunday’s showers.

We plan to slowly evacuate the flood-storage water over the next few weeks to accommodate fish spawning, which should end in early May. If we get more rain within the next week or so, we may need to increase releases a bit to prevent using any more flood storage reserve.

~Russell Wicke, Chief of Corporate Communication COE

HARTWELL, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hartwell Lake Office will open the following campgrounds and day use areas for the 2015 recreation season on May 1:

• Oconee Point Campground, Oconee County, S.C.

Open May 1 – Sep. 30. The campground is conveniently located minutes from Clemson and Townville, S.C., with a total of 70 sites (all waterfront). All sites are equipped with water and electric (50- amp) hook-ups. Shower/restroom facilities are conveniently located throughout the park. Other amenities at the park include: dump stations, swim beach, playgrounds, park attendant, and boat ramp with courtesy dock and security lighting.

• Coneross Campground, Oconee County, S.C.

Open May 1 – Sep. 30. The campground is conveniently located on the Seneca River near Townville, S.C., with a total of 106 sites, all with water and electric (50-amp) hook-ups. Shower/restroom facilities are conveniently located throughout the park. The following amenities are also available: dump stations, swim beaches, playgrounds, park attendant, and boat ramp with courtesy dock and security lighting.

• Paynes Creek Campground, Hart County, Ga.

Open May 1 – Sep. 8. The campground is located only minutes from Hartwell, Ga., with 44 sites (37 waterfront). All sites are equipped with water and electric (50-amp) hook-ups. Other amenities at this campground include: shower/restroom facilities, dump station, playgrounds, park attendant, 9-mile multi-purpose trail, and boat ramp with courtesy dock and security lighting.

• Georgia River Campground, Hart County, Ga.

Open May 1 – Sep. 8. The campground is located on the Savannah River just downstream from the Hartwell Dam, with 13 primitive campsites. Restroom facilities and fishing piers are available within the area.

In addition to the above campgrounds, the following day use areas will open from May 1 – Sept 9 for the 2015 season. These areas provide picnic shelters, picnic sites, restroom facilities, playgrounds, swim beaches and boat ramps with courtesy dock and security lighting:

• River Forks Day Use Area, Anderson County, S.C.
• Weldon Island Day Use Area, Anderson County, S.C. (no swim beach or playground)
• Friendship Day Use Area, Oconee County, S.C. (no picnic shelter)
• Twin Lakes Day Use Area, Pickens County, S.C.
• Poplar Springs Day Use Area, Franklin County, Ga. (no swim beach or playground)
• Elrod Ferry Day Use Area, Hart County, Ga.

Reservations for campsites and picnic shelters can be made by calling the National Recreation Reservation Service toll-free at 877-444-6777 or online at www.Recreation.gov. For more information contact the Hartwell Lake Operations Manager’s Office toll-free at 888-893-0678.