Staff Report

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake has thanked all volunteers that participated in Enid Lake’s 28th Annual Habitat Day. The day was favored with beautiful weather and the event proved once again to be a huge success. This year 175 volunteers and an additional 20 employees from the Corps of Engineers participated.

About 1,200 trees and 2,000 wooden stakes were used to construct over 400 shelters that were strategically placed and anchored in many locations throughout the following areas: Love Joy, Billy’s, and Mooney Creeks.

These man made structures will provide future shelter for many bait fish, which are needed to sustain a healthy population of larger game fish.  Due to the hard work of these volunteers these structures will provide many enjoyable days of fishing in the future.

The Enid Lake Habitat Day began with a hearty breakfast followed by instructions and a safety review.  After instructions were given everyone headed out to assigned work areas for a morning of placing cedar trees and wooden stakes on the barren mudflats. Upon completion of work everyone returned to the Corps of Engineers’ Maintenance Shop to enjoy a wonderful lunch and the awarding of door prizes.

According to studies performed by biologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, these shelters are showing enormous benefits to both habitat and fishing in the lake. Since inception of “Habitat Day”, approximately 71,350 trees have been placed in the lake, which constructed over 23,700 shelters.