Extend your Christmas tree's life; help create habitats for fish

Volunteers gather uses Christmas trees to create fish
habitats at St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lakes.

Don't let your Christmas tree go to waste this year after the holidays. The St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is encouraging local citizens to participate in the annual Christmas tree recycling program.

Donated Christmas trees are bundled together in small groups and submerged in lakes at select locations in Missouri and Illinois. These shelters provide fish with breeding areas and escape cover, proving invaluable to not only the fisheries but to anglers as well.

Artificial or flocked trees (with artificial snow) cannot be accepted. Please remove all tinsel, decorations, stands and plastic bags from the tree before delivering it to the designated collection sites.

St. Louis District drop-of location information:

Mark Twain Lake: Christmas trees can be brought to a collection site at John Spalding Boat Ramp. Christmas trees will be accepted at this location until January 31, 2011.

Structures will be placed in Mark Twain Lake in mid-March by Corps of Engineers employees, and volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer or wanting more information should contact Brad Stamp at the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at (573) 735-4097.

Lake Shelbyville: Trees will be collected in Shelbyville and Sullivan again this year. The designated collection site in Sullivan is at the corner of Water and Main Streets, at the recycling lot across from the Library. Trees can be dropped off inside the snow fence area on the North side of the lot. (PLEASE, DO NOT PLACE TREES ON THE PARKING LOT).

In Shelbyville, the designated collection site is the Johnstowne Mall on the West side of Shelbyville. Please place trees inside snow fence area on the grass at the Northwest corner of the parking area (PLEASE, DO NOT PLACE TREES ON THE PARKING LOT). Trees will be collected at both sites from December 26, 2011 through February 1, 2012.

A tentative date for the placement of the trees into the lake is March 10, 2012. Volunteers are needed to help bundle and place the trees in the lake. For more information on this fish habitat project, contact Ken Pierson at (217) 774-3951, ext 4 or Mike Mounce at (217) 345-2420.

Rend Lake: Christmas trees can be dropped off at any of the following three boat ramps or parking lots locations: Sugar Creek Parking Lot, located at the intersection of Licata and Mine 24 Roads; Dam West Boat Ramp, located on the west end of the main dam; or Jackie Branch Boat Ramp located north of Rt. 154 across from the Barren Township building. Christmas trees will be accepted at these locations until January 16, 2012.

Volunteers with boats and/or fishing and outdoor organizations are encouraged to assist with placement of the trees. To volunteer or for more information contact Molly Rawlinson at the Rend Lake Project Office at 618-724-2493.

Wappapello Lake: Christmas trees can be brought to a collection site at Chaonia Landing and Redman Creek boat ramps. Each drop-off location will be marked with a sign. Christmas trees will be accepted at this location from December 26, 2011, through January 15, 2012.

If you would like more information or have questions about Christmas tree shelters or placing fish shelters in the lake, please contact Park Ranger Jeremy Jackson at the Wappapello Lake Project Office at (573) 222-8562.