MOBILE, Ala. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District at West Point Lake is accepting organic (i.e., naturally grown) Christmas trees for recycling until Jan. 10, 2020. Artificial trees will not be accepted.
“These organic trees will be used to improve fish habitat in West Point Lake,” said Ben Williams, supervisory natural resource specialist at West Point Lake Project. “Our park rangers and volunteers will place the organic trees in the lake to create fishing structures.”
The trees may be dropped off in the parking lots of the following locations:
- Georgia: Yellow Jacket and Sunny Point Boat Ramps
- Alabama: Rocky Point Boat Ramp
All decorations – tinsel, lights, garland, bulbs, artificial snow, etc. – must be removed from the trees before dropping them off. Please place the trees at designated locations in the parking lots. Dumping of household trash at these sites is strictly prohibited.
Guidelines for placing organic trees in West Point Lake are as follows:
- Do not place the trees where they could become safety hazards to boaters or swimmers. For example, trees should not be placed near boat launching ramps, in shallow boat traffic channels, or at swimming areas.
- Use a suitable anchoring system to prevent the trees from floating away or moving around. A cement block will work well as an anchor for one or two trees, but it must be securely fastened to the tree using nylon twine or a similar material.
- Place trees in deeper water and areas where the water depth changes significantly, such as near an underwater ridge or hump, to attract more fish. Fish tend to use this type of area throughout the year.
- Contact the West Point Lake Project Management Office, 706-645-2937, to install large numbers of trees or other types of structures for fishing reefs.
“Although a permit is not necessary to place trees in West Point Lake, we ask everyone to please follow our guidelines and contact us if our assistance is needed,” said Williams.
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West Point Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the West Point Dam on the Chattahoochee River, authorized for flood control, hydroelectric power, navigation, fish and wildlife development and general recreation. Surrounded by deep forests and rolling fields extending 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia state line, the lake has approximately 525 miles of shoreline and features a wide variety of recreation activities including fishing, camping and boating for public enjoyment.
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Release no. 20-001