C-5 Off-site Recreational Fishing (Hartwell State Lakes Proposal)

Project Description and Need

A goal of the compensatory restoration plan for recreational fishing is to provide off-site recreational fishing services, including fish harvest and fishing effort, to replace an estimated $18 million in lost services on Lake Hartwell due to PCB contamination. Creating off-site public fishing in counties adjoining Lake Hartwell will provide the greatest opportunity to replace lost recreational fishing services to the majority of anglers affected by the fish consumption advisory. We believe shore-based Lake Hartwell anglers were greatly impacted by the PCB contamination in Lake Hartwell. Most shore-based anglers utilized the Lake Hartwell fishery for both sport and subsistence.

The establishment and development of off-site fisheries in the form of intensively managed DNR state fishing ponds and lakes will greatly enhance the opportunity to fish and harvest fish in clean waters unaffected by fish consumption advisories. This program will mitigate the damaged Lake Hartwell shore-based fishery for harvest-oriented anglers. In addition, this program will provide high quality recreational opportunities in extremely close proximity to all of the local communities impacted by the Hartwell fish consumption advisory.

A number of the ponds and lakes proposed for management in this off-site program are currently not available to the public due to lack of resources to effectively manage these water bodies. Furthermore, none of the impoundments which are currently open to the public are intensively managed as fishing lakes, which greatly limits the ability of the lakes to produce quality fisheries. All of the lakes are limited by inadequate facilities to provide public access and a quality recreational experience. Increasing access to public waters and recreational fishing opportunity in the "surrounding area" of Lake Hartwell was also a major compensation objective.

Project Objective

As prescribed in the consent decree our primary objective is to create opportunities for the public to generally harvest fish that are not subject to fish consumption advisories currently in place for Lake Hartwell and 12-Mile Creek. Additionally, we strive to enhance recreational fishing in the area immediately surrounding Lake Hartwell. Secondary benefits such as increased wildlife viewing areas and development of recreational facilities (picnicking, hiking, pleasure boating) will also benefit area residents.

Approach

A wide variety of alternatives were explored to replace lost recreational fishing services, specifically the ability to harvest fish not subject to fish consumption advisories. Alternatives such as new lake construction, purchasing or leasing existing lakes, and constructing sub-impoundments within the Lake Hartwell basin were considered.

Careful assessment of these options identified that leasing and development of currently inaccessible un-managed lakes and ponds, owned by Clemson University and/or SCDNR and surrounding Lake Hartwell, as the best course of action.

Our intent is to negotiate a long-term lease or Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Clemson University to bring suitable existing water bodies on the Clemson University Agricultural Experiment Station and the Clemson University Experimental Forest into South Carolina’s public state lake fishing program. The ponds and lakes will be managed in the most effective manner based on the characteristics of the individual water body. Management activities would include but not be limited to liming and fertilization, angler access enhancement (ramps, piers, trails, etc), population manipulation and stocking. Where appropriate, ponds would be managed for bass, bream and catfish. Ponds in which traditional bass/bream management would not be effective would also be managed primarily for put-grow-take catfish fisheries.

SCDNR staff met with Clemson University staff in charge of the Simpson Station and Clemson Forest and discussed the potential for inclusion of ponds and lakes totaling approximately 137 acres into the Department’s state lakes program (Figure 1). Initial discussions indicate a willingness to partner to develop a long-term agreement for inclusion of these lakes into SCDNR’s state lakes management program.

Ponds Named in Proposal:

Harper Road Ponds Complex (4 Ponds) at Simpson Agricultural Station
Danenhower Road Pond (Anderson County)
LeMaster Dairy Pond (Pickens County)

Causey Farm Lake – Gravely WMA (Pickens County)
Lake Issaqueena (Pickens County)
City of Walhalla Reservoir - (Stumphouse Youth WMA)

Expected Benefits

We estimate that intensive management of these 9 ponds and lakes has the potential to yield 29,252 pounds annually of clean fish not subject to fish consumption advisories. A 1992 recreational angler creel survey of Lake Hartwell indicated 16% of Lake Hartwell anglers did not eat Lake Hartwell fish because of the PCB advisory (Bales 1993). In that same study 253,703 pounds of fish were harvested by anglers. A 16% increase from that harvest level would equal 40,592 pounds of fish lost due to the PCB advisory. We believe the intensive management of these off-site lakes has the potential to replace over 70% of the lost harvest of fish from Lake Hartwell due to the PCB advisory, as defined in 1992 (Table 1).

Hartwell State Lakes Budget

The projected start-up budget for the Hartwell State Lakes Project is estimated at $400,000. This includes projected facility upgrades such as bringing pipes and spillways up to standards, constructing minimally necessary parking and access facilities, purchase of equipment and personnel necessary to maintain the lakes, and an annual operations budget. Ponds Project Budget Summary

Annual operations budget after the initial start-up is projected at $100,000. The overall objective is to manage this lakes management project for at least a 20-year period to replace lost harvest and recreation over a period when Lake Hartwell is expected to remain under PCB related fish consumption advisories. Year 2-20 Budget (2010 dollars)

20-Year Life of Project Total $2,300,000

Follow this link to the Full Proposal http://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/pdf/OmnibusRecFishPlan10909.pdf

PLEASE NOTE - Comments posted here WILL NOT be passed on to the Trustees.

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