Christmas Tree Recycling

After the presents are unwrapped, and the lights come down, many families have a Christmas tree in need of disposal. Natural trees may be donated to the department’s Christmas tree recycling program to benefit fish species in lakes across Kentucky instead of being wasted in a community landfill.

“Christmas for the Fishes” is an annual program that uses evergreens donated after the holiday season to make underwater fish habitats that fish need to thrive.​​​​

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife accepts evergreen trees at the drop-off locations listed below across the state from December 26 through January 15 each year. Trees should be real, not artificial, and should be free of lights, garland and decorations. Limbs, wreaths, brush or other plants will not be accepted.

Donated trees will be anchored to environmentally-friendly weights and submerged at various depths in different lakes and reservoirs across Kentucky to provide places for fish to feed, shelter and spawn. They make great refuge and feeding habitat for game fish, as well as small fish and invertebrates that are crucial for a thriving ecosystem.

Fish flourish in an environment that is full of different types of cover including trees and logs. The donated trees will help restore woody structures in lakes that decay over time, providing protective cover and shade for a variety of fish species.

The locations where trees are installed generally become hot spots for fish species targeted by anglers. These locations are recorded by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff and the GPS coordinates made available to anglers through the “Lakes with Fish Attractors” page on the department’s website.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is funded through the sale of fishing and hunting licenses, boat registrations and related grants. Conserving Kentucky’s fishes and their habitats and providing related recreational opportunities are important aspects of the department’s mission.

Check Out More Of​ KDFWR's Fish Habitat Construction Projects​

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