INA, Ill. (WSIL) -- For those who have live Christmas Trees this year, you will soon take them down. But before you throw them away, there's another option. You can repurpose them.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are wanting your live Christmas Tree.
They want it to help the fish habitat to help improve angling opportunities at Rend Lake. Donated trees will be bundled together and placed underwater at Rend Lake for the fish.
You may drop off your trees at Rend Lake, Mt. Vernon, and in Marion. See where below...
At Rend Lake, drop off points are for the following locations until January 12, 2025:
- Sugar Creek Parking Lot: located at the intersection of Licata and Mine 24 roads.
- Dam West Boat Ramp: located on the west side of the Rend Lake Dam
In Mt. Vernon, you may drop off through January 10 at the following locations:
- Veteran’s Park Softball Field: 800 South 27th Street
- Optimist Park: 903 Pace Avenue
In Marion, you may drop off through January 10 at the following locations:
- Ray Fosse Park: Goofy Golf parking lot at 500 East Deyoung Street, just north of Highway 13
- Pyramid Park: Northernmost picnic shelter parking lot at 1300 Bevabeck Drive
Artificial trees or flocked trees (artificial snow) cannot be accepted. All decorations, stands and plastic bags must be taken off before donating the tree.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists, along with volunteers, will take the donated trees and place them in Rend Lake in the month of March.
