HARTWELL — Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Hartwell Lake
Office announced Friday that because of record-breaking low lake levels, all Corps managed ramps are closed until further notice.

The Corps marks ramps as "closed" with signs when there is less than three
vertical feet of water at the end of the ramp.

The longest ramps managed by the Corps on Hartwell Lake go to elevation
640' feet mean sea level (msl.). Today's lake elevation is 641.75 ft-msl.

Because of the low lake levels, the Corps has taken actions to extend the use of
five boat ramps by placing rock or gravel on the lake bed at the end of the
ramps. Boaters are urged, however, to inspect ramp conditions carefully and use
at their own risk.

"As the lake level continues to drop, we will continue to monitor these
areas and add more rock as long as the slope of the selected ramps allows for
that," said Tanya Grant, Corps Park Ranger at Hartwell Lake. “However, anyone
using a boat ramp needs to inspect it carefully to make sure it is usable for their particular boat and trailer."

The ramps that have been extended by adding rock are:

-   Big Oaks and Crawfords Ferry in Hart Co., Ga.
-   Green Pond and Hattons Ford in Anderson Co., SC.
-   Martin Creek in Oconee Co., SC.

Even with these extensions, closed signs will still be posted at the
boat ramps because of the constantly changing lake conditions.

For additional information, contact the Hartwell Operations Manager's

Office toll free at 1-888-893-0678 or 706-856-0300.

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Lake Hartwell Association, P.O. Box 312, Fair Play SC 29643
Tel: 864-224-5253     URL: www.lakehartwellassociation.org