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GRAFTON — A large group of volunteers faced the bitter cold Saturday morning as they gathered at Tygart Lake to anchor recycled live-cut Christmas trees for future fish habitat.
The program started in 2007, as the United States Army Corps of Engineers at Tygart Lake sent out the call for Christmas trees in December. Each year since, the number of donated trees, and the number of volunteers to anchor them, has grown substantially.
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Residents are encouraged each year to drop their live-cut Christmas trees off at the Grafton City Garage after the holiday season. The city then transports the donated trees to the lake, where they are distributed by volunteers.
“This has been a record year for trees and for volunteers,” stated April Hawkey, Tygart Lake Corps of Engineers Park Ranger. “I had an assistant from WVU (West Virginia University) hand out fliers on campus for volunteers. The WVU Fishing Club called and asked ‘how many people do you need?’ that was great, in calling for volunteers, you never know just how many you will get.”
Hawkey stated that 15 volunteers from the club came out to assist with the effort. Along with the fishing club, regular volunteers, who have made this a regular project since the beginning, showed up in force. These regulars are from Boy Scout Troop #6 from Grafton, and the Save The Tygart Watershed Association.
In all, 45 volunteers helped place the trees near the site of last year’s donations.
During what was obviously one of the coldest mornings in February, these brave volunteers met for orientation at the Corps Park Office at 9 a.m.
From there they traveled down to the gravel lot launching area where 400 donated trees awaited. Each tree had to be anchored to concrete blocks strategically located to put the trees about15-20 feet underwater at summer pool levels. Each tree had to be drilled at its base to allow for the zip tie used to attach it to the block.
Volunteers arrived to find the trees awaiting at the top of the launching area. Together they threw, rolled and dragged the trees down over the hill to the staging area below. With Fish Attractor buoys attached, anglers will know where to go to take advantage of these efforts.
The donated trees are anchored along the Tygart Lake shoreline in February, while the lake level is low, so that when the lake returns to its summer levels the trees act as artificial reefs, providing advanced habitat for the lake’s fish and improved fishing opportunities for anglers. Once secured on the lake bottom, the Christmas trees provide shade and a hiding place for fish.
As Hawkey ran the crew up top, making many journeys up and down the steep hill, US Army Corps of Engineers Tygart Lake Resource Manager, Mike Estock handled the efforts down the hill at the staging area.
The success of this program has been noted in various fishing publications. One such mention comes from an April 25, 2010 report at sportfisherman.com, which expands upon the success of the project. “The lake (Tygart) is near the summer pool level. Target largemouth and smallmouth bass by casting crankbaits along the shoreline. Crappie are now concentrated around Christmas tree fish attractors. There are lots of walleye and trout in the tailwater and this is the best place in northern West Virginia to fish for them.”
Trees were donated by Lowe’s, Home Depot, Barbour County, and the cities of Grafton, Nutterfort and Morgantown. The Corps’ staff at Tygart Lake would like to thank those who donated the trees, WV DNR for their cooperation, and all of the volunteers for assisting in the construction of the fish attractor.
After the event, all of the volunteers were treated to pizza. Hawkey also stated that a volunteer appreciation day is in the works, for everyone who helps make Tygart Lake State Park a wonderful place to visit.BY: Matt Trout