Recently, about 30 volunteers assisted us with a project to improve fish habitat at Ocean Lake.  On the volunteer day, recycled Christmas trees were placed on the ice and wired to concrete blocks. When the ice melts in the spring, the trees sink to the bottom and create the inland equivalent to an artificial reef.
 
The project began in 1989 when four Riverton fishermen, Howard Johnson, Bob Baumann, Bob Wilczewski, and Scott Stanley began discussing projects to bring the Ocean Lake fishery back. They realized that increased siltation in the Lake slowed plant growth on the bottom and fish populations fell right along with it. They saw this as a valuable way to give one day a year back to the resource. 
 
Approximately 350 trees were placed on the ice this year.  Special thanks go to Fremont County Solid Waste for collecting and delivering the trees, Wyoming Demolition (Sheridan) U.S. Forest Service (Washakie 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 coordinated these donations and served hot chocolate at the event to keep everyone warm.


Pictures by Jay Zastrow of North Platte Walleyes