GRDA Wants Your Christmas Trees For Its 'Crappie Christmas' Program

The Grand River Dam Authority says now that your Christmas tree has served its purpose they're asking you consider putting it to another good use, creating a fish habitat on Grand and Hudson lakes.

GRDA's Ecosystems Department is collecting used, live Christmas trees through January 10.

Only live trees will be accepted and GRDA asks that all decorations and ornaments be removed.

"This is another program, similar to the annual Rush for Brush events, that are designed to help enhance the fish habitat," said GRDA Fisheries Coordinator Brent Davis.

"We'll place all the trees we collect into Grand and Hudson lakes. They will make good cover for the small crappie and help boost those populations in the year ahead."

Davis says like structures built during GRDA's "Rush For Brush program, the submerged tree areas will be prime fishing locations for anglers.

"That's a win-win situation for the fish and the fishermen. We want to encourage the public to consider this option instead of burning their trees after Christmas," said Brent Davis.

GRDA news release

This year, in response to public input, there will be several drop-off locations.

On Grand Lake, those locations include the Wolf Creek Park boat ramp, Honey Creek State Park ramp, Bernice State Park boat ramp and the GRDA Lake Patrol parking lot. On Lake Hudson, trees can be dropped off at the Lions Club boat ramp in Salina.