PLANTING TREES ON EARTH DAY…IN THE WATER?
Partnership recycles over 67,000 pounds of materials to benefit anglers

RAVENNA, OH- April 22, 2009 marked the 39th anniversary of Earth Day. To commemorate this event, the Ohio Division of Wildlife completed one of its most successful collaborations to date. Fish management personnel and the Mahoning County Green Team joined forces to gather used Christmas trees and cinder blocks across northeast Ohio and introduce them as fish concentration devices into West Branch Reservoir (Portage County).

“In total, 265 structures were introduced into the lake. At 50 pounds per tree and 50 pounds per block, that’s about 33 1/2 tons of materials that would have ended up in a landfill being reused and recycled “ says Mary Gresh of the Green Team. Matt Wolfe, Fisheries Biologist who oversees this project for the Division of Wildlife, adds “these structures will be a great asset to the anglers who fish West Branch because they will hold fish for many years to come. Plus, they came at minimal cost to the Division and those who purchase fishing licenses.”

The tree structures can be found at the following locations:

55 structures at N 41o 7’ 55.8” / W 81o 7’ 51.6” (South side bay) in about 7-15 f feet of water

94 structures at N 41o 7’ 57.7” / W 81o 7’ 37.3” (South side bay) in about 7-15 feet of water

23 structures placed along each of the northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast sides of the Rock Springs Road Causeway in about 10-15 feet of water

24 structures at N 41o 8’ 20.8” / W 81o 9’ 49.2” (West end bay) in about 10-15 feet of water

The map datum on your GPS unit should be set at NAD 83 to find the structures.

The goal of this project is to introduce 500 structures into the waters of northeastern Ohio annually in order to recruit the next generation of anglers and retain the anglers who already enjoy the sport of fishing. With limited funding available, none of this would be possible without the help of local organizations who have contributed to this effort. 

Structure locations in other northeast Ohio lakes can be found at the northeast Ohio Fishing Prospects.