SCDNR Lake Hartwell Fish Habitat Enhancement Project
In 2006, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources received a settlement from Schlumberger Technology Corporation for damages to the Lake Hartwell recreational fisheries due to PCB contamination in the Twelve Mile arm of the reservoir. The $2.8 million settlement is to be used for enhancement of fish habitat within the reservoir. The goal of the Lake Hartwell Fish Habitat Enhancement Project is to improve recreational fishery through enhancing fish habitat features such as shoreline, shallow-water, and deep-water habitat. These enhancements will provide cover, increase spawning and nursery habitat, improve forage for popular gamefish species, act as fish concentration areas, and improve angler success. Since the start of this project in 2014, fifteen sites have been enhanced with over 3,000 pieces of natural and manmade materials being used to construct habitat structures throughout Lake Hartwell.