GRDA Fisheries Coordinator/Tournament Director Brent Davis unloads used, live Christmas trees during the first annual “Crappie Christmas” effort in January 2013. GRDA is asking the public to participate in the second annual habitat enhancement effort (December 26, 2013 – January 10, 2014) by dropping off their old trees at one of several locations around Grand and
Vinita – Once those live Christmas trees have served their purpose in your homes this holiday season, the Grand River Dam Authority is again asking you to consider putting them to another good use: fish habitats.
Yes, it is time for the second annual “Crappie Christmas” and the GRDA Ecosystems Department will be collecting used, live Christmas trees between December 26 and January 10. This year, in response to public input, there will be several drop-off locations. On Grand Lake, those locations include the Wolf Creek Park boat ramp, Honey Creek State Park ramp, Bernice State Park boat ramp and the GRDA Lake Patrol parking lot (adjacent to the old patrol building). On Lake Hudson, trees can be dropped off at the Lions Club boat ramp in Salina.
Only live trees will be accepted and GRDA does asks that all decorations and ornaments be removed. Just bring the trees to the drop-off location and place them on the pile.
“This is another program, similar to the annual Rush for Brush events, that are designed to help enhance the fish habitat,” said GRDA Fisheries Coordinator/Tournament Director Brent Davis. “We’ll place all the trees we collect into Grand and Hudson lakes and the W.R. Holway Reservoir. They will make good cover for the small crappie and help boost those populations in the year ahead.”
Like the structures built during GRDA’s “Rush For Brush program, these submerged tree areas will also be prime fishing locations for area anglers, added Davis.
“That’s a win-win situation for the fish and the fishermen. We want to encourage the public to consider this option instead of burning their trees after Christmas.”
For more information on the “Crappie Christmas” program, contact GRDA’s Jacklyn Jaggars at (918) 256 0723 or jjaggars@grda.com