Lander - The Fremont County Solid Waste Disposal District, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Inberg-Miller Engineering are partnering again this year to recycle live Christmas trees. After trees are collected they will be weighted and placed on top of ice at Ocean Lake. In the spring, trees will sink to the bottom and create structure in the lake.

To Participate: Bring your trees for free to either the Lander Landfill (52 Beebe Road), the Riverton Transfer Station (329 North Smith Road), or the Dubois Landfill (100 Mountain View Road) any time starting December 26, 2019. All decorations, lights, and tinsel must be removed beforehand. Trees will be accepted until January 30, 2020.
 
The History: This project and partnership has been in-place for almost thirty years with over 11,000 fresh, live Christmas trees placed during that time.  The trees provide important structure at the bottom of the lake, which is otherwise lacking. This structure congregates larger fish making them easier for anglers to find and provides shelter for small fish so they have the opportunity to grow.
 
To Assist with Placement: The placement process, including helping load the trees from the shoreline onto small trailers, unloading at the placement location, grouping them together, and tying them to concrete blocks will be scheduled once the ice is determined to be safe and announced to the public. All of this starts on Long Point of Ocean Lake. This is anticipated to take place in early February, weather permitting. All volunteers are greatly appreciated and welcome.

Thank You to All Additional Partners:  Wyoming Demolition (Sheridan), U.S. Forest Service (Wahsakie Ranger District in Lander), General Shale (Casper), and Drake’s Landscaping (Mills) for donating concrete block and Geotec (Mills) for donating wire. And to Brian Woodward (Rocky Mountain Discount Sports, Casper) and North Platte Walleyes Unlimited (Casper) who helped coordinate these donations.

- WGFD -