Pier nears completion

http://www.thehartwellsun.com/articles/2009/10/28/news/news04.txt

By John Brasier, Editor

Construction of the Gum Branch Access tournament fishing “mega-ramp” and a recreational pier just below Hartwell Dam were well underway on the eve of the Lake Hartwell Association's annual Fall Information Forum on Oct. 29 in Anderson, S.C.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen Todd Semonite is the featured speaker at the LHA meeting, which is open to the public and begins at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center of Anderson.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Toby Evans said the pier by the dam was scheduled to open before the end of 2009. He said the mega-ramp was on schedule to open by April 15.

The projects are funded through the $4 million allocated for Georgia fisheries via a PCBs settlement.

The fishing pier by the dam is 380 feet long and 10 feet wide accessed by a 400-foot boardwalk through woodland. It will connect with an existing fishing pier to be reopened near the south wall of the dam. The existing pier was closed in the aftermath of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Evans said construction of the pier by the dam began in July and was delayed about three weeks by faulty concrete.

Schools of bass and trout are visible in the cool water coming from the dam.

“That's going to be a great addition to that facility,” Evans said of the new pier.

The mega-ramp is hoped to attract a national bass fishing tournament such as the 2008 BassMasters Classic held on Lake Hartwell but based in Anderson and Greenville counties in South Carolina, to the area.

Once the new pier by the dam is finished, it will be turned over to the Corps of Engineers.

The state leases Gum Branch from the Corps and will retain control of the mega-ramp, which will have six lanes and 242 parking spaces.

Corps spokesman Billy Birdwell said a “wetter-than-normal” winter is expected that should keep the water level up.

Though the water level of Lake Hartwell is only about two feet below full pool, Hart County administrator Jon Caime said he expects water levels to again be a major source of questions and concern.

Many LHA members are concerned about possible proposals to divert water from Lake Hartwell to Atlanta, especially during drought conditions.

Caime and the LHA is encouraged about a study on the economic impact of water level drops on the lake sponsored by the Corps and Clemson University.

The county administrator said that in the past the Corps has shown limited, if any, interest in the economic impact of lake level fluctuations.

Camie said he understands the need for water downstream in the Savannah River Basin, but would oppose “interbasin transfers” with no benefit to Hart County.

“Send us the economic growth and we'll send you the water,” Caime said. “That water needs to stay here. They'd be taking money out of our lake to another area.”

LHA representative Vernon Sauer of Hartwell said he's interested in hearing specifics about the fishing pier near the dam.

Sauer said the LHA has proposed changes to the Corps' water release schedules.

Under the current schedule, the Corps will take the lake to four feet below full pool in December then restore the water in January.

“We would like to keep the lake level full,” Sauer said.

Sauer said the LHA may also discuss its support for the establishment of a comprehensive water management plan in South Carolina similar to those in Georgia and several other states.