What outdoors lovers can expect this Memorial Day weekend in the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It could be at least three more months before the Augusta Canal trail fully reopens after Hurricane Helene left it debris-strewn on Sept. 27.

Not having the trail fully reopened is a bummer for some – especially heading into a holiday weekend and the summer.

Crews are not cleaning this Memorial Day weekend, so it’s fine to kayak and canoe in the water.

On the canal trail, the world slows down.

“I love it. I love it all,” said Ladarian Allen, uses the canal.

“It’s one of my happy places that I’ve spent many years down here recharging, refreshing and renewing,” said Mike Hearon, uses the canal.

No matter how many times you’ve been out here, the sights and sounds never get old.

“Well, you see they like it. They’re chilling,” said Allen.

It’s a peaceful place for many.

“I do my long run on Friday morning, and I enjoyed the gravel pathway as well as the shaded cover from the trees and the beautiful scenery,” said Hearon.

But there are some areas to stay away from, like the pumping station.

Leaning trees and cracks in the embankment are hazardous, too.

“We continue to clear those that were impacted by the storm or that, by the loss of the additional trees around them, continue to be a hazard,” said Augusta Utilities Director Wes Byne.

Byne says the cleanup process is lengthy and costly — totaling $10 million, including $2 million out of the city’s budget.

“We have to finish the design of the embankment repair, which is a certain geotechnical and dam safety engineer. We’ve engaged them, we’re working through their whole process. Then it has to go to a couple of regulatory agencies for approval, and so in doing that, that will be a little bit of a time delay,” said Byne.

Byne says it could be early fall before this gate disappears – many are counting the days, more so than they are counting their steps.

" I miss that feeling of lack of accessibility, that feeling of confinement to asphalt, to concrete, and being out in God’s creation is really renewing and health-giving,” said Hearon.

Slowly, the canal is finding its rhythm again, and the people here can’t wait.

“I know that we’re all continually trying to reset things from that horrible devastation of the hurricane, and I know we have to think about safety first and we have to think about the utilities, but I am looking forward to continuing to move back towards normalcy, I think it’s for the health and. And for the welfare of the whole community, I think it’s important,” said Mike Heron, uses the canal.

Also, this holiday weekend, the downtown Riverwalk is still closed due to debris cleanup.

Pendleton King Park is also still closed.

Outside Augusta but still popular with local residents is the newly reopened West Dam recreational area at Clarks Hill Lake.

The day-use area has been closed for months for Helene cleanup, but reopened Friday.

The park is missing some amenities and structures, such as tables and grills, that were damaged by the storm, but is now safe for visitors.

The reopening makes 40 of 51 Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas at the lake that have at least partially reopened since Hurricane Helene.

There is still debris remaining in most parks and potential hazards remain, so visitors must use caution and avoid closed areas.

To check the status of Army Corps facilities at the lake, visit https://www.sas.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-and-Offices/Operations-Division/J-Strom-Thurmond-Dam-and-Lake.

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