Arkabutla Lake Hosts 15th Annual Fish Habitat Day

VICKSBURG, Miss…     Team members of the Corps’ Arkabutla Lake partnered with biologists from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) to host the 15th annual Fish Habitat Day at Arkabutla Lake. The event consisted of placing Christmas trees as fish habitat structures in the dry lake bed to improve the fish habitat at Arkabutla Lake. 
 
During breakfast for the participants, natural resource specialist Clayton Burford provided safety guidelines and informed of locations where materials were staged. A biologist with MDWFP, Keith Meals, explained the process of the placement of the fish habitat for maximum results. 
     
The forty-two participants were divided into groups and placed approximately 250 trees, donated by Lowe’s and the city of Hernando, and more than 7500 wooden stakes at various locations around the lake. A total of 210 manpower hours were spent accomplishing this annual habitat event. Lunch was served following the placement of the fish habitat structures.

The Corps’ Arkabutla Lake staff thanks the volunteers and the MDWFP members for making this another successful event. 

Although the primary mission of Arkabutla Lake is flood damage risk reduction, approximately 855,000 individuals visit Arkabutla Lake annually to enjoy the camping, playgrounds, swimming areas, several types of trails, fishing, boat ramps and marinas.  The lake traffic brings approximately $14,000,000 annually to the local economy and supports almost 250 jobs. Arkabutla Lake, part of the Mississippi River and Tributaries System (MR&T), is one of the four lakes in Mississippi maintained and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District.  Information on Corps lakes and recreational areas can be found on the Vicksburg District’s website. http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil