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Who is responsible for cleaning up the Oconee River logjam

As the logjam continues to get worse, questions are piling up over who should clear it

A logjam on the Oconee River in Dublin has one man asking questions about who is responsible for cleaning it up.

The sound of traffic roars over the river, but one thing that’s easily noticeable from the bridge are the trees jammed underneath. It’s a danger Sandra Harden says she sees every day.

“I’m afraid somebody driving a boat will miss that and get hurt,” said Harden.

Harden isn’t the only one worried. Tony Tabler reached out to WMAZ after he saw the logjam get progressively worse over the past few months.

“Anyone who could swim in the river or fall out of a boat, even wearing a life jacket, could get pinned up against that and it creates a strainer in the water,” said Tabler.

He’s worked in public safety as a firefighter for more than a decade and says the jam needs to be fixed immediately, but he hasn’t had much success looking for answers.

“Everyone is concerned and realizes it’s truly a problem, but I can’t get any action. I’m not sure who to get ahold of,” he said.

After calling around, the Laurens County Public Works, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Natural Resources all said they’re not responsible for removing the jam.

Sgt. Chris Moore with Georgia DNR says debris flowing downstream is normal and over time will clear out, but Tabler says it’s unacceptable.

“We need some help down here. All of the agencies I have contacted have been very helpful and I’ve gotten a few calls back, but I’m at a loss of who to talk to now,” said Tabler.

WMAZ reached out to CSX and the Army Corps of Engineers but did not hear back.

Moore says he doesn’t believe a single entity is responsible for clearing debris from the river and that it would be a big undertaking for any organization.

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