On July 3, Alabama Power Company employees planted water willow on Smith Lake with high school anglers – and a few parents – from Hayden High School and Vinemont High School. The group staged out of Smith Lake Park and planted the water willow around the big island in Ryan Creek.
Josh Yerby, environmental affiars specialist with Alabama Power, introduced Alabama Power’s Aquatic Plant Management Program and shared some aquatic plant samples with the group of young anglers.
Kyle Bolton with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) provided the button bush sprouts for the group to plant, and he further described the ADCNR’s programs.
Four boats launched and split up to plant in the lake once the proper prep work was done.
“Alabama Power has one of the best fish habitat enhancement records of any electric utility in the country,” said Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. national conservation director. “Their programs that involve the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation high school and college anglers in conservation projects is one we hope other lake authorities will want to copy.”
