1,200 Christmas trees find new home in Thurmond Lake

By Ms. Tracy Robillard (USACE)January 17, 2013

Loading used Christmas Trees
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Clarks Hill, S.C. -- As part of the annual Christmas tree recycling program, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collected 1,200 trees this year from communities surrounding J. Strom Thurmond Lake.

The Corps partnered with Riverside Middle School in Evans, Ga., which served as the public drop-off location between Dec. 19 and Jan. 9.

Corps park rangers and volunteers submerged the trees in various locations throughout the lake to enhance fishing habitat. Some of the trees were placed at public boat ramps for anglers to use.

"The submerged trees attract fish because they provide cover for small fish as well as a substrate for algae growth, which creates a feeding area for smaller fish," said Jamie Sykes, Corps of Engineers' fisheries biologist. "These small fish attract larger species, thus creating an enticing "hot spot" for anglers.

The trees were placed at following locations (GPS coordinates provided):

1. Amity Day Use Area (Lincoln County, Ga.) N 33° 38' 45.4" W 82° 28' 37.6"

2. Big Hart Day Use Area (Wilkes County, Ga.) N 33° 36' 57.1" W 82° 30' 40.7"

3. Modoc 7 Boat Ramp (McCormick County, S.C.) N 33° 43' 59.3" W 82° 13' 37.9"

4. Keg Creek (Columbia County, Ga.) N 33° 38' 35.1" W 82° 18' 20.5"

5. Gill Point Boat Ramp (Lincoln County, Ga.) N 33° 56' 50.1" W 82° 35' 39.3"

6. Dorn Boat Ramp (McCormick County, S.C.) N 33° 50' 37.1" W 82° 20' 42.6"

7. Longcane Boat Ramp (McCormick County, SC) N 33° 56' 03.1" W 82° 23' 34.6"

8. Scotts Ferry (McCormick County, S.C.) N 33° 40' 53.4" W 82° 12' 09.8"

9. Clarks Hill Park (McCormick County, S.C.) N 33° 40' 18.8" W 82° 11' 26.7"

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