Instead of throwing away your Christmas trees, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says you can donate those trees to their Christmas for the Fishes program.
According to a news release, personnel collect the donated trees and bundle them to create fish attractors that will be submerged in lakes across the state. These brush reefs provide new cover for all fish and nursery habitat for young fish. They also attract baitfish and algae, providing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms.
These Christmas tree reefs provide new life to lakes whose cover is dwindling because of natural degeneration of existing woody habitat. The program truly does provide Christmas for Kentucky’s fish.
Donated trees must be free of any decorations. Trees will be accepted from today until January 15 at 39 drop off locations in 34 counties. To find your closest location, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov and type in the keyword, “Christmas.”
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employees build new habitat in lakes year-round. The department plots these locations using GPS coordinates so anglers can find them.