Arkabutla Lake 12th Annual Fish Habitat Day Successful

Vicksburg, Miss…… Arkabutla Lake recently hosted the 2014 fish habitat day. 25 volunteers gathered at the Arkabutla Lake Field Office to assist with the placement of fish structures in the lake bed. These Volunteers donated more than 170 hours of their time and were served breakfast and lunch, donated by Superlo Foods in Southaven and Kroger in Hernando. Gifts and gift cards were donated by Sportsman’s Warehouse in Southaven and Walmart in Hernando.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) partnered to select areas around the lake that would benefit from habitat improvement. Volunteers constructed and placed fish shelters from over 320 discarded cedar and Christmas trees. Due to this year’s high water levels, the structures were placed in the lake using boats. The trees were donated by the cities of Hernando and Senatobia.

Corps natural resource specialist, Dave Funderburk and MDWFP wildlife biologist, Keith Meals, provided the volunteers with information about the locations and placement of the fish habitat to obtain maximum results.

As stewards of public lands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is dedicated to providing a safe, quality recreational experience for all visitors. Although the primary mission of Vicksburg District’s four Mississippi lakes is flood damage risk reduction, over 1.5 million individuals visit the recreational areas annually to enjoy the camping, playgrounds, swimming areas, several types of trails, fishing, boat ramps, marinas, and marina slips. For more information about volunteering, contact natural resource specialist, Dave Funderburk, at the Arkabutla Lake Field Office (662)-562-6261 ext. 14589