The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Carlyle Lake Education Habitat and Preservation (CLEHP) group and community volunteers, will host two volunteer workdays in March to improve fish habitat and enhance fisheries at Carlyle Lake.
The first event, a Fish Habitat Structure Build, will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at 14205 Huey Road in the South Shore Recreation Area, just outside Carlyle, Illinois. Volunteers will assist with constructing artificial fish habitat structures that will later be installed in the lake. Some tasks may involve using power tools and lifting heavier materials; participants are encouraged to bring safety glasses and work gloves if available. Volunteers are welcome to participate at any time throughout the day.
The second event will occur on Saturday, March 21, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the Allen Branch Boat Ramp located within Eldon Hazlet State Park. During this workday, volunteers will help place the previously built habitat structures into the lake along with approximately 250 recycled Christmas trees. Participants will assist with loading and transporting the materials for placement in designated areas of the lake. Volunteers who have boats and are willing to assist with transporting and placing structures on the water are encouraged to participate.
Together, the recycled trees and artificial structures will form fish reef habitats throughout Carlyle Lake. These habitats provide essential cover and spawning areas for fish, while also supporting the growth of algae and zooplankton that serve as important food sources for young fish. Recycled Christmas trees offer an inexpensive and effective method for creating habitats that benefit a wide variety of fish species.
For more information, please contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484 or email carlyle.lake@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 26-011
