Volunteers Improve Lake Habitat Through Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Grant

A recent habitat improvement project supported by the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and AFTCO is already making an impact thanks to dedicated volunteers and strong agency partnerships.

On Saturday, February 21, volunteers gathered for a habitat work day to prepare fish habitat structures that will benefit bass and other species in the reservoir. The group included nine adult volunteers, one youth volunteer, and a fisheries biologist from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

A Day of Building and Preparing Habitat

Volunteers spent the day assembling MossBack habitat structures purchased through grant funding. These artificial structures will provide shelter for baitfish and juvenile fish while creating productive areas for bass and other gamefish.

In addition to building the MossBack structures, volunteers also worked with the Public Lands Division to remove cedar trees identified for clearing. The trees were cut at their bases and transported by ATV to a staging area.

Once collected, volunteers attached concrete blocks to the cedar trees using galvanized wire so they could later be sunk in the reservoir as natural fish habitat.

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Habitat Installed in the Reservoir

On Tuesday, February 24, two volunteers returned to assist with the installation phase of the project. They worked alongside a team from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks that included:

• A local fisheries biologist

• The regional habitat coordinator

• The Region 1 fisheries supervisor

• Two members of the Public Lands staff

Using habitat barges, the team transported and installed all of the MossBack structures and cedar trees into the lake. The habitat was strategically placed as shallow-water structure, creating important cover and spawning habitat for fish.

A True Partnership Effort

This project is a great example of how conservation efforts succeed through collaboration.

Grant funding from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and AFTCO was used to purchase the MossBack habitat structures. Additional support came from local partners and volunteers.

• Kansas Bass Nation provided breakfast, lunch, and refreshments for volunteers during the work day and supplied refreshments during the habitat installation.

• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks provided the concrete anchors, galvanized wire, and concrete blocks used to sink the structures.

• KDWPT also supplied equipment and logistical support including a pickup and trailer to transport the habitat structures, two habitat barges used during installation, and a skid steer to load cedar trees onto the barges.

Together, these efforts resulted in a significant addition of fish habitat that will benefit the lake’s ecosystem and anglers for years to come.

Community Impact in Action

Projects like this demonstrate the mission of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame to support conservation efforts that enhance fisheries, engage volunteers, and strengthen the future of the sport.

By combining grant funding, agency expertise, and volunteer energy, the project successfully created new habitat that will improve fishing opportunities and support healthy fish populations.

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