Army Corps collecting Christmas trees

From staff reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District are accepting live evergreen Christmas trees at Tionesta Lake, which will be used for aquatic habitat-improvement projects.

Visitors may drop off live Christmas trees until Jan. 15, at the Tionesta Lake boat launch area on Route 36. Signs will be in place to help guide tree drop-offs.

The project office location address is 477 Spillway Road, Tionesta, Pa.16353-9613.

Donations must be free of decorations and non-biodegradable materials. Artificial trees will not be accepted.

Trees will be used for structural fish habitat improvement projects. When anchored to the bottom of a waterbody, evergreen trees promote ideal habitats for attracting and holding a variety of fish species and other aquatic organisms.

The decaying woody debris provides food resources necessary for aquatic macroinvertebrates to thrive, thus attracting insects favoring smaller fish species such as yellow perch, rock bass, and bluegill.

With smaller prey fish present and hiding amongst the tree limbs, larger predatory fish species, such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and muskellunge, will also frequent the structure, promoting great fishing opportunities for properly-licensed anglers.

For more information or questions, contact the Tionesta Lake office at (814) 755-3512.