CLARKS HILL, SC. ()- It is now officially summer, which means many of you will be going to the lake. 

The Corps of Engineers is still working to clean up storm damage from the hurricane, but now they’re getting some extra help. 

Last month, they took us on a tour of the grounds here at Clarks Hill Lake. There’s still work to do, but they’ve now secured important funding to speed up the process. 

Since last September, the Corps has only been able to use the district’s operation and maintenance funds to open boat ramps and access points.

But thanks to the Federal Highway Administration, traveling around the grounds will be easier.

“Roads and day-use areas like this at Lake Springs do qualify for it,” said Garrett Bramlette, Chief Ranger of Recreation. “They will be moving debris off the sides of roads inside the park—including our 20,000 hangars and leaners, as well as our 2,000 hazardous stumps that will be here.”

The funds, coming from ERFO (Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads) only cover debris removal on roads, trails and parking lots.

Restrooms, campsites, and docks at the park are still damaged—so to make those repairs, more funding is needed. 

“We’re going to go back to the agency—the Corps of Engineers—once we’ve been able to gain access to those areas, do a thorough assessment, and get a general idea of the costs. Then, we’ll return back to the Corps to request those additional funds to make those repairs,” said Tammy Weatherford, Operations Project Manager.

While the park is waiting on those funds to be processed, they’re also working to get a debris removal contract by the end of the summer. 

“We’ve been able to move forward with our contracting office to start the process of awarding a contract to get folks in here to help us start cleaning up. I think August is a realistic time frame for that where people will actually see that activity starting,” Weatherford said.

“This is going to speed up the process tenfold. So, instead of us working by ourselves to try and remove this debris out of here, we’ll now be able to afford to pay someone to do so—who will do it on a much larger scale, with much bigger equipment, and much more people,” said Bramlette.

Parts of the park still remain closed, but the Corps says it’s their goal to remove most debris to their two debris drop off sites by the end of the year. 

“The period of the contract is generally 120-day-performance. So, if all goes as planned, we could have the bulk of our debris moved to our storage sites by the end of the year,” said Weatherford.

While they plan to start the process soon, they plan to keep safe parts of the park open to the public.

“As far as Army Corps of Engineers operated parks, West Dam, Clarks Hill Park and below dam Georgia are open. The rest of the 41 of our 51 areas that are open are mainly boat ramps,” said Bramlette.

The Corps will share more details about these funds when they are received, the contract is awarded, and timelines are confirmed.