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For years, the Augusta community has fought for a more usable Lake Olmstead. Over time, contaminated sediment has dangerously decreased the water's depth. In places, even near the center of the lake, the water is only a foot deep. In Augusta's warm climate, the shallow water makes the lake pretty much a petri dish for harmful bacteria during the summer. The dredging will deepen the lake, in some spots, by almost ten feet. The multi-million dollar project, funded by SPLOST money and Augusta-Richmond County stormwater money, should be finished by Fall 2021.
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• Lake is closed for recreational use
• Hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of slurry will be pumped to old ponds off Riverwatch Parkway • A 14" wide, underwater/ over the ground pipeline is in place to pump the slurry from the lake • Dump trucks are moving slurry from the upper lake, near the Broad Street exit from Washington Road |
For most of the year, while the dredging work is underway, recreational access to Lake Olmsted will be restricted.
The heavy equipment work won't stop people from paddling the Augusta Canal. However, paddlers who use the lake for access will have to use other points to embark on or end trips.
Savannah Riverkeeper suggests two alternative places, near Lake Olmstead, which provide pretty easy access to the Augusta Canal.
You can download a copy of the Savannah Riverkeeper Kayak Guide of Lake Olmstead, with directions to each of the alternative locations below.
The heavy equipment work won't stop people from paddling the Augusta Canal. However, paddlers who use the lake for access will have to use other points to embark on or end trips.
Savannah Riverkeeper suggests two alternative places, near Lake Olmstead, which provide pretty easy access to the Augusta Canal.
You can download a copy of the Savannah Riverkeeper Kayak Guide of Lake Olmstead, with directions to each of the alternative locations below.
| Kayak Guide Lake Olmstead 2021 |
WRDW - Dredging will limit use of Lake Olmstead for months |
1/5/21 - The trail along the levee top is closed from lower Lake Olmstead to lower Raes Creek
1/26/21 - Dredging crews have anchored and sank the pipeline being used to moved slurry across the Augusta Canal. The canal is again accessible for paddleboat traffic. 7/07/21 - Crews working on the dredging project are asking paddlers to avoid coming in to close areas near the slurry pipe along the dredging trail from lower Lake Olmstead to the Savannah River. |
If you're interested in exploring our local waterway, book a tour through one of our awesome local guide companies.
Savannah Rapids Kayak Rentals
Augusta Canal Boat Tours
