‘Tis the season…
…to dump your Christmas tree! It’s time to take the season to the curb and think about other things. Did you know that you can do more with a Christmas tree than just throw it out at the end of the holidays? The trees can be repurposed as a fish habitat! By securing weights (usually cinder blocks) to the trunks, they can be sunk to the bottom of lakes and ponds. Once underwater, these trees provide an excellent habitat for small fish. The decomposing trees provide nutrients for phytoplankton and algae, which provides food for zooplankton, which in turn attracts insects, small fish, and other aquatic species. Essentially, it produces a freshwater reef that offers food and protection to a diverse group of small organisms.
Sure, creating hot spots for productivity in the pond ecosystem is all well and good, but there is another big added bonus to this practice. Fisherman love them! Many lakes and ponds are lacking in population-concentrating habitat, which results in sought after
Usually, these habitats are established when trees and limbs fall into the lakes and ponds from the shore. However, these can be an eyesore and impede the enjoyment of those areas of the water body on and off the shore. Many communities work hard to remove the trees from their waterways and wonder why they are unable to consistently catch fish. There is a solution! Sinking Christmas trees establishes these naturally occurring habitats while leaving the aesthetics of the water body in a park-like setting. A win-win for all!
Matt, Trey, and James of the Aquascape Environmental crew recently headed out, braving the frigid temps, to deposit 60 Christmas trees at a lake community that we serve in Roswell, Georgia. Repurposing these trees from their typical destination to a landfill is one of many services we provide in regards to fishing and our mission towards environmental stewardship.
