Alexander City, Ala. — Alabama Power [apcshorelines.com], Lake Martin Resource Association [lmra.info], and Lake Martin Tourism Association [explorelakemartin.com] are teaming up to help create new fish habitats in Lake Martin. Dec. 26-Jan. 8, undecorated Christmas trees can be dropped off at Lake Martin Machine Gun in Eclectic [explorelakemartin.com], Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City [explorelakemartin.com], or New Water Farms in Dadeville [explorelakemartin.com]. The trees will be collected by Alabama Power, and properly turned in to fish habitats within the lake. This initiave benefits Lake Martin in many ways.
This encourages proper recycling of trees, to keep them off of roadways and out of landfills.
Alabama Power will be legally and properly placing the trees, making sure all safety mesasures are followed so that trees do not move and rise, which could damage boats and injure boaters. Alabama Power has strict processes in place that maintains the safety of boating on Lake Martin.
This will help the aquatic ecosystem of the lake, and help create new fish habitats.
New fish habitats mean new fishing hotspots for anglers on Lake Martin. Fishing is important to the lake and local economies, and this effort helps push that even more. The specific coordinates of the new habitats will be released by this spring.
Jodie McGirt, President of Lake Martin Resource Association: “What a great way to continue the season of giving by recycling your real Christmas tree to build fish habitats on Lake Martin? Lake Martin Resource Association (LMRA) is honored to partner with Alabama Power and LMTA to progress our mission to protect, preserve and promote Lake Martin through this project. From an environmental focus we are seeking to preserve the ecosystem of the fish population by building additional habitats that attract more fish, with the trunks and branches becoming a nursery for small fish that attract larger fish looking for a good meal. From a safety perspective, we appreciate Alabama Power experts binding and placing these new habitats, securely submerged in safe locations to ensure boater safety throughout the year. We want to thank the community for your continued support to help LMRA protect and preserve Lake Martin for future generations.”
Brandy Hastings, Lake Martin Tourism Association: “Fishing is an important part of our tourism offerings on Lake Martin, and we are excited to work with Alabama Power and Lake Martin Resource Association to create new fish habitats that will help further the aquatic ecosystem for our anglers. With Alabama Power being involved in this project, we can make certain that these fish habitats are created in the proper ways. When people don’t follow proper procedures, it creates the possibility of an unsafe situation when the trees become loose and become a hazard for boaters. Lake Martin Resource Association works hard all year to promote safe boating and this is one way that we can work together with them to help further that mission and keep our boaters safe.”
Michael Clelland, Alabama Power: “We have been recycling Christmas trees and building fish habitat since 1993 and have placed over 60,000 trees in Alabama Power reservoirs all over the state, including Lake Martin. As reservoirs age, a lot of the natural brush and fish habitat deteriorates, and this is a way of creating new habitat and enhancing older habitat to benefit fish of all species. I look forward to working with LMRA and Lake Martin Tourism on this project in 2023 and hope we can make this Christmas tree recycling program an annual effort.”