Source: Kerr Lake Guide
This
year the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at John H. Kerr Reservoir
will be accepting used live Christmas Trees until January 31st to be
recycled into fish habitat. Designated drop off areas will be located
at three USACE Boat Ramps located throughout Mecklenburg County. The
three areas that will be accepting trees this year will be:
• Visitor Assistance Center by North Bend Park,
• Rudds Creek Day Use Area, and
• Occoneechee State Park.
Each area will have designated marked and roped off drop off locations.
At the end of January the USACE will take the donated trees, bind them together and sink for fish habitat. All parks already have a marked fishing reef buoy nearby which is where the trees will be placed. “These trees are some of the best natural forms of underwater structure. Crappie, bass, bluegills and other fish will often use the tress to hide in and around,” according to Chris Powell, Conservation Biologist at Kerr Reservoir. “Once the trees become a new home for fish, it’s not long before they will provide increased opportunities to local anglers young and old alike to get hooked on fishing,” Powell said.
Please drop off your Christmas tree, free of decorations, to one of the three locations above so we can keep trees out of our landfills and improve our fishery here at John H. Kerr Reservoir. If you have any questions or concerns about this project feel free to call Chris Powell, Conservation Biologist at (434) 738-6143 ext. 162.