Several Illinois Department of Natural Resources facilities have announced they will collect discarded live Christmas trees for fish habitat.
Centralia and Salem City Officials have also announced they will have a program to collect the live trees to go into the lakes.
In Salem, trees can be left out on your normal yard waste collection day on Tuesday or Thursday for pickup. In Centralia, trees can be dropped off after Thursday, January 2nd, at the Public Works building at 115 East 5th Street Monday through Friday from eight am to three pm. The drop off service will be available for three weeks until January 24th. In both Salem and Centralia, residents must remove all ornaments, lights and tinsel prior to disposal. Centralia is partnering with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for placement into the city’s lakes for fish habitat.
The US Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project will accept trees as well. Donations will be accepted through March 1st at Plant Land on Old US 50 east of Breese, Dam East Boat Ramp and the Little Prairie Nature Trail parking lot in the West Spillway Recreation Area. All decorations must be removed. Artificial trees and wreaths will not be accepted.
Trees may also be taken to the designated area near the boat ramps at Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area near Omega, Sam Dale State Fish and Wildlife Area, and Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area through January 19th.
Each spring, volunteers from various conservation-minded organizations and individuals work together to submerge the recycled trees into the lake as fish shelters. The structures provide crucial breeding grounds, resting areas, and protection for fish, particularly young fish, helping them grow to maturity and improving the fishing experience for anglers.
