KY Fish and Wildlife Seeks Discarded Natural Christmas Trees
Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:09 am
FRANKFORT, KY (12/22/11) – Many natural Christmas trees wind up in a landfill after the holidays. The fisheries division of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has a better idea: Sink these discarded trees into lakes to provide more cover for fish.
The department is seeking tree donations from the public to help make this happen. "As our lakes age, we need to replenish the woody habitat that rots away with time," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We need natural Christmas trees to construct habitat for fish to be placed in our 17 major reservoirs, our smaller state-owned lakes and even our small Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes."
Fisheries workers place habitat in lakes on a small scale year round. Over the last several years on Kentucky, Cumberland and Barren River lakes, the fisheries division conducted large scale habitat renovation. Nolin River Lake, Green River Lake and Taylorsville Lake will receive habitat in 2012.
"This habitat provides protective cover for all fish and nursery habitat for young fish; it attracts baitfish and algae grows on it, providing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms," Ross said. "These structures also increase angler fishing success by providing productive structures for people to fish."
The department is seeking tree donations from the public to help make this happen. "As our lakes age, we need to replenish the woody habitat that rots away with time," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We need natural Christmas trees to construct habitat for fish to be placed in our 17 major reservoirs, our smaller state-owned lakes and even our small Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes."
Fisheries workers place habitat in lakes on a small scale year round. Over the last several years on Kentucky, Cumberland and Barren River lakes, the fisheries division conducted large scale habitat renovation. Nolin River Lake, Green River Lake and Taylorsville Lake will receive habitat in 2012.
"This habitat provides protective cover for all fish and nursery habitat for young fish; it attracts baitfish and algae grows on it, providing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms," Ross said. "These structures also increase angler fishing success by providing productive structures for people to fish."
