SAVANNAH, GA.– The United States Army Corps of Engineers today released a listing of Civil Works projects to be funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
For the Savannah District, the legislation funds nearly $94.3 million in construction and operations and maintenance projects. The nationwide list of projects is available on the Corps’ Recovery Act website at www.usace.army.mil/recovery.

Lake Hartwell Projects total $11,202,000 and are as follows:

$30,000 - Monitoring of spawning of Shortnose sturgeon (endangered species) in the Savannah River. Identify if spawning is successful and the flow and site conditions. Data would be used to assess conditions under which flow discharges could be reduced to conserve water during the ongoing drought.

$40,000 - Construct restroom building at Poplar Springs Recreation Area. The lack of a sufficient restroom facility near the ramp creates an unsanitary situation that has a negative environmental impact and requires undue maintenance cleanup by project personnel

$350,000 - Perform shoreline stabilization work to replace failing structures and protect vital infrastructure (CPAF, FY09). Continued erosion of the Hartwell shoreline threatens vital recreation infrastructure such as roadways, campsites/picnic sites, restroom facilities, etc. This package reduces the risk of failure of recreation facilities

$281,000 - Cultural Resources Protection of the Tugaloo and Chauga Mounds to include subsurface radar investigations to further delineate the sites in order to implement improved site protection measures in order to prevent degradation of these historic sites.  

$100,000 - Electrical service, water and sewer work at Hart Group Camp. Work is intended to create 6-8 campsites to host long term volunteer personnel in an effort to increase the Hartwell project's volunteer program.

$300,000 - Hire 6 summer temporary ranger personnel to provide adequate staffing during the recreation season. Ranger personnel are necessary to implement the project's water safety program, provide adequate visitor assistance patrols of project lands and waters and provide adequate recreation/natural resources program service levels at the Hartwell project

$350,000 - This package increases O&M contract requirements and employees to provide additional repair and maintenance services of recreation facilities. Additional mowing and cleaning crews will be added to increase services to minimum Corps standards.

$300,000 - Rehab existing campsites/picnic sites and restroom access within selected recreation areas to meet accessibility requirements and bring sites up to current Corps standards.  

$300,000 - Rehab existing campsites/picnic sites and restroom access within selected recreation areas to meet accessibility requirements and to bring sites up to current Corps standards. Activities will include increasing the size of RV and impact pads, adding amenities such as fire rings, lantern hangers and picnic tables where they do not curently exist or where existing amenities are worn out, addressing eroision problems and adding or improving barrier free access to facilities for individuals with physical disabilities

$2,400,000 - Paint Gantry Crane - This will remove the original lead primer and overcoatings of paint (the crane was originally fabricated and painted in 1960). This will complete the 2007 rehab/upgrade of the gantry crane which is the only crane available to maintain the generators and turbines and eliminate the lead paint hazard for workers and the Savannah River

$100,000 - Repair/Install courtesy docks. Repair of existing and installation of new docks at selected ramp access areas would greatly improve safety for the boating public.  

$60,000 - Install a new accessible fishing dock at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. Installation of the dock would reduce the risk of personal injury by providing an addditional safe access facility.

$50,000 - This package is for the installation and 1-year operation of water quality monitors on the Savannah River. Data would be used to determine conditions under which project flow discharges could be reduced to conserve water during the ongoing drought.  

$1,000,000 - Contract for paving selected recreation areas to bring them up to acceptable service levels. Existing roadways were resurfaced approximately 25 years ago.  

$450,000 - Design and Construct New Station Battery Room. Reduces risks to employees. Adds safety features for ventilation and spill protection.

$100,000 - Clemson Pumping Station Office Replacement - The current office is a deteriorated trailer that is not secure, is susceptible to wind damage, and is not suitable for housing required electronic office equipment such as computers, faxes, radios and phones.  

$50,000 - Clean, Measure and Monitor Water Flow of Foundation Drains in the Hartwell Dam - To reduce uplift forces on the concrete gravity dam by allowing the ground water an escape route downstream. The drains have not been water-blast cleaned of calcium and sludge since 1997.

$1,541,000 - Award contract to design and install Motor Control Centers, including all power and control cables back to supply

$2,400,000 - Award contract to design and install Station Service Switchgear equipment including all power and control cables connecting back to supply transformers.   

$1,000,000 - Repair/replace sanitary facilities within Campgrounds. Funding would bring facilities up to standards by replacing outdated, inefficient structures with modern facilities. This will reduce maintenance required to keep these older facilites operational