SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Thurmond Project Office will accept natural Christmas trees (no artificial trees) for recycling Dec. 16 through Jan. 6.

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The recycled trees will be used as fish attractors in Thurmond Lake. Corps rangers and volunteers will submerge trees around fishing piers to improve fishing habitat. Additional trees will be staged at select ramps around the lake to be used by the public. Anyone wishing to obtain a list of locations where the trees will be available should contact the Corps’ Thurmond Lake Office after Jan. 10.

The Christmas trees can be dropped off at Riverside Middle School, located in Evans, Ga. All decorations, such as tinsel, lights and garland must be removed from the trees before dropping them off. Dumping of household trash at the site is strictly prohibited.

“Small trees and brush provide cover for fish, particularly as nursery areas for juvenile fish,” said Kenneth Boyd, Thurmond Lake conservation biologist. “In addition, they provide habitat for aquatic insects – essential food during the early stages of most fish species.”

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Thurmond Lake Project Office toll free 1-800-533-3478, or visit
http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/index.html.