Carlyle Lake, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project is now accepting real Christmas trees for the annual Christmas Tree Recycling Project. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the recycled trees will be used to create fish habitats at Carlyle Lake, providing an effective and eco-friendly way to improve local aquatic life.
Christmas tree donations will be accepted through March 1, 2025, at the following locations: Plant Land (on Old Route 50 east of Breese), Dam East Boat Ramp, and the Little Prairie Nature Trail parking lot in the West Spillway Recreation Area. Please ensure all decorations, including garland and tinsel, are removed. Artificial trees and wreaths will not be accepted.
Each spring, volunteers from various conservation minded organizations and individuals work together to submerge the recycled trees into the lake as fish shelters. These structures provide crucial breeding grounds, resting areas, and protection for fish, particularly young fish, helping them grow to maturity and improving the fishing experience for anglers.
For more information on this project or to volunteer for the tree placement in the spring, please contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484 or email carlyle.lake@usace.army.mil.
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