Photo by Barry Featheringill
Volunteers load donated Christmas trees into a boat before then taking them out to various locations and submerging them across Lake Shelbyville Saturday. More than 100 participants were present to disperse 482 trees and 70 artificial structures in an effort to improve fish habitats.

Donated trees submerged in annual fish habitat day

by Barry Featheringill
Sullivan Reporter

Not all Christmas trees get put out to pasture or street curbs come December 26. In fact, some get put out to the lake. 482 to be exact.

This past Saturday, dozens of volunteers gathered at the Lithia Springs boat ramp on Lake Shelbyville to create habitats for fish in the 25th annual fish habitat improvement day.

According to Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) district fisheries biologist Mike Mounce, this year boasted 105 volunteers which, while less than last year’s record setting 157, was still a work force enough to get the job done. Mounce attributed the decline due to postponing the event and the colder weather.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.