The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will again accept used Christmas trees to create fish habitat in Lake Thurmond.
The Corps said it will accept used, real Christmas trees only for recycling starting on Dec. 19 and going through Jan. 9.
Trees can be dropped off at Riverside Middle School at 1095 Furys Ferry Road in Evans, Ga.
The Corps said that all decorations such as tinsel, lights, garland and bulbs must be removed from the trees before dropping them off and dumping of wireframe wreaths, yard debris, and household trash at the site is strictly prohibited.
The recycled trees will be placed in various locations throughout Lake Thurmond to enhance fish habitat.
Corps rangers and volunteers will place submerged trees around fishing piers and in other locations to improve fishing habitat. Additional trees will be staged at select boat ramps around the lake for anglers to use.
To obtain a list of locations where the trees will be available, contact the Corps’ Thurmond Lake Office at 1-800-533-3478 after January 10.
The Corps of Engineers has held the tree recycling program for about 20 years at Thurmond Lake and collects between 1,000 and 1,200 trees annually.