C-4 Green Pond Event Center - $1,500,000
Project Description, Justification and Need
To further accomplish the goal of providing a complete compensatory restoration plan for recreational fishing, it is important to consider the access needs for all facets of recreational fishing on Lake Hartwell. The development of a large fishing event facility on Lake Hartwell would satisfy a long-standing recreational fishing facility need.
Though Lake Hartwell contains numerous public boat access facilities, these areas were primarily developed when the Lake was constructed in the 1960s. At the time, large single and multi-day fishing tournaments were not a popular activity and thus were not considered in the design of the boat access points. In a 1992 creel survey of Lake Hartwell conducted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 52% of the total angler effort (354,079 hours) was in pursuit of largemouth bass, the predominant species targeted in major fishing tournaments. Striped bass, an additional species in the Lake Hartwell fishery, have also become popular with tournament anglers in recent years.
In an effort to provide an adequate facility to host major fishing tournaments, Anderson County has proposed to implement the construction and maintenance of a facility at the Green Pond Recreation Area. This proposed project would include the construction of six boat launch lanes, 150 car and trailer parking spaces, 50 single-car parking spaces, tournament weigh-in area, courtesy docks, and restrooms. The project may also include bank fishing access, pavilion/amphitheater, playground, and a kayak/canoe launch. Public road improvements to facilitate easier access to the facility would also be included.
Project Objective
Enhance the Lake Hartwell recreational fishery through the establishment of a large-scale boat acces facility to host major fishing tournaments.
Approach
The Green Pond Event Center would be constructed and maintained by Anderson County. The proposed facility location was determined based on its proximity to major roads, including SC 24, SC 187, and Interstate 85. There are 25 hotels/motels and numerous restaurants within 8 miles of the propsoed site. The City of Anderson and the Anderson Civic Center are less than 7.5 miles away. The proximity of fishing event facilities to hotels and restaurants is a major factor determing the potential utilization of event facilities. The Green Pond Recreation Area contains 29-acres of land, an adequate amount for the complete development of the proposed facility.
Expected Benefits
The addition of a public access facility capable of accommodating major single and multi-day fishing events will provide a large enhancement to the Lake Hartwell recreational fishery. Tournament angling is a large component of the fishing effort on all large Southeast reservoirs. A 2008 creel survey on Lakes Russell and J. Strom Thurmond reservoirs, just downstream of Lake Hartwell, found that 23% of all anglers interviewed on Lake Russell and 44% of all anglers interviewed on Lake Thurmond were either fishing in or preparing for a tournament. This facility will satisfy a major infrastructure need on Lake Hartwell by providing an adequate facility to host tournament anglers. By concentrating these events at one location an additional benefit will be realized at other Lake Hartwell facilities by reducing crowding and providing parking and adequate access for those anglers and other boaters not particiapting in these events.
Green Pond Event Center Budget
The funding request for the Green Pond Event Center is estimated at $3,172,865.00. The proposed funding allocation for the facility is $1,500,000. This includes design and construction costs of the recreational fishing aspects of this facility.
Follow this link to the Full Proposal http://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/pdf/OmnibusRecFishPlan10909.pdf
For further information on the RCDP contact:
Paul League, SCDNR, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC. Interested parties may also email Mr. League at Leaguep@dnr.sc.gov