Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Region III fisheries staff, with support from Kubota of Chattanooga and volunteers from Tennessee Tech University and Cleveland State Community College, Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation, installed 500 fish habitat structures in Chickamauga Reservoir, a Bill Dance Signature Lake. Grants from the Friends of Reservoirs and Bass Pro Shop helped fund the work.

Because reservoirs are artificial, nutrients and natural structures decline over time. Natural materials, such as different types of woody habitat, have been used on occasion, but they break down within a few years. Therefore, structures are typically made of BPA-free plastics that last for decades, saving time and funding.

Fish habitat structures provide refuge in otherwise desert-like areas of the reservoir. Placed at varying depths, attractors supply essential habitat for a multitude of species during different life stages.

This project also targeted fishing tournament release areas. Habitat structures will provide sanctuary for fish released during weigh-ins. Additionally, three statewide hatchery stocking sites were enriched to protect juvenile fish released from our hatcheries. This undertaking is not unique to Chickamauga, one of the Bill Dance signature reservoirs. Thousands of fish attractors have been added to reservoirs across the state over the past decades, and efforts will continue. Anglers can find the locations of each one on the TWRA maps page and the “Where to Fish” tab on the TWRA app.

Region 3 Hatchery Habitat Manager, Jacob Mowery said, “Great partnerships have allowed us to accomplish this task quickly. Habitat is one of the three pillars of fish management, along with people and fish.”