(Washington, DC) – Following the October 2024 Announcement of eight priority Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership projects, the National Fish Habitat Partnership is announcing an additional five projects that will receive the remaining funds from a $500,000 grant received from the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Fund in 2024. In total, the 13 projects funded through the 2024 Outdoor Fund grant selected are matched with $1,492,174 in additional funding that will go directly to on-the-ground projects benefitting fish habitat and improving angling opportunities. NFHP received these funds through Beyond the Pond, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established to benefit the work of NFHP through its 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships across the U.S.    

The additional five projects that will receive funding are:

Siloam Springs City Lake, Crystal Lake and Beaver Lake, Arkansas
Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation\Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Partnership, Grant amount ($22,500 with $71,000 in partner match funding). 

This project will improve fish habitat and fishing access at Siloam Springs City Lake, Crystal Lake and Beaver Lake. The Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Alliance will work with local high schools to place Mossback Fish Habitat in Siloam Springs City Lake and Crystal Lake. The Alliance will work with a local fishing club to add either cedar trees or Mossback Fish Habitat to Beaver Lake. The fishing access improvement will take place at Hickory Creek Park on Beaver Lake and plans are to construct a fish cleaning station at this heavily used lake access. Funds for this part of the project have been donated by Pradco Outdoor Brands via Bobby Garland Crappie Baits.


Developing Infrastructure to Reduce Temperature and Turbidity in the Henrys Fork Snake River Watershed, Idaho
Henry’s Fork Foundation, Grant amount ($22,500 with $645,311 in partner match funding).

To address persistent water quality concerns, the Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) along with Idaho Department of Fish and Game and partners have launched the “Developing Infrastructure to Reduce Temperature and Turbidity” (DIRTT) project. The DIRTT project aims to tackle challenges in the Henry’s Fork Watershed: high water temperatures, high turbidity, low dissolved oxygen, and harmful algal blooms (HABs). Water quality problems arise due to eutrophication in Island Park Reservoir, aging and outdated infrastructure at Island Park Dam, degraded tributaries, and drought. The DIRTT project will develop implementable 60% design plans, fill data gaps, and engage stakeholders regarding the watershed.


Woodcock Creek Lake Habitat Improvement Project, Pennsylvania
Crawford County Conservation District, Grant amount ($22,500 with $81,500 in partner match funding).

This project will create an access road for Reef Ball installation on the west side of the lake. This project installs over 200 Concrete Reef Balls. The Reef Balls will provide long lasting and high quality aquatic habitat at the lake which  is lacking due to winter draw downs. The reef balls will be supplemented with trees and other brush periodically to improve all types of habitat for aquatic organisms. The project provides new fishing opportunities as well.  The road can be used to reach areas which were previously difficult to access.


Pineview Reservoir Middle Arm Fish Habitat Augmentation, Utah
Muskies Inc. Chapter 65\Utah Division of Wildlife, Grant amount ($22,500 with $165,120 in partner match funding).  

The project places artificial habitat structures in deep water areas of Pineview Reservoir generally in close proximity to spawning areas of primary panfish species. The goal is to place structures in 'patches' of approximately 0.1- 0.25 acre areas. Aquatics biologists will be consulted to target the most advantageous areas for the structures. It is likely that locations for structures will be expanding the areas where previous habitats have been placed. This phase will concentrate heavily on the Middle Fork arm, as previous phases have focused on the north and south forks. 


Jordanelle Reservoir Habitat Enhancement, Utah 
Muskies Inc. Chapter 65 Mountain West Muskie\Utah Division of Wildlife, Grant amount ($22,500 with $45,500 in partner match funding).

Artificial habitat structures (Mossback and Pond King) will be placed in nearshore and offshore habitats to increase the refuge for larval and adult fish. An estimated total of 190 structures (70 funded through this grant request) are expected to be added to Jordanelle Reservoir. Habitat enhancement areas will be assessed pre- and post-placement by regional biologists, and the total area in acres improved will be quantified using side-scan sonar. The goal of enhancing fish-holding habitat is designed to directly benefit forage fish of Yellow Perch and predatory fish such as Smallmouth Bass, both highly desired species by anglers. It is expected to offer indirect benefits to other predatory fish, such as Hybrid White Bass and Tiger Muskellunge, a relatively new species added to the system in 2018. This preliminary project will be used to jumpstart a large-scale project that will span a complex of two reservoirs in the region. One is returning to this reservoir of Jordanelle but additionally adding in Deer Creek Reservoir, which is just downstream. 

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About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:
Since 2006, NFHP has supported over 1,500 projects benefiting fish habitat throughout all 50 states. This effort works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest effect on fish populations through priority conservation projects of 20 Fish Habitat Partnerships that are organized around key fish species, geographic areas, or important fish habitats. In 2020, NFHP was recognized by Congress as part of the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act. NFHP guidance and policies are developed in conjunction with our partnerships and National Fish Habitat Board. For more information, visit fishhabitat.org.