AFTCO Awards Conservation Grants to B. A. S. S. Nation Clubs in 2024
AFTCO, a company dedicated to conservation, has awarded six grants totaling $25,000 to B.A.S.S. Nation Clubs in recognition of their efforts to enhance aquatic habitats across various reservoirs and lakes. AFTCO has contributed over $145,000 to these initiatives since the program’s inception in 2018.
Banner Creek Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Project with Leavenworth Bass Club
The Leavenworth Bass Club and AFTCO aim to establish native aquatic vegetation along three miles of shoreline at Banner Creek Reservoir in Holton, Kansas, through the Banner Creek Aquatic Vegetation Restoration Project. This will be achieved by building a greenhouse at Perry State Park where plants will be propagated, and transplanted back into the reservoir from 2024 to 2026. The greenhouse can produce nearly 3,000 plants per year. Monitoring will be conducted through presence-absence surveys, bathymetric mapping, and snorkel assessments until 2031. Youth anglers will assist with transplantation, and a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) biologist will educate local high school students on the importance of native aquatic plants.
Revitalizing Structural Fish Habitat in Lake Brownwood
A project led by Texas B. A. S. S. Nation, aims to revitalize the structural fish habitat in Lake Brownwood, a popular destination for tournament bass fishing in western Texas. This project involves installing natural and man-made fish habitat structures across three designated areas of the reservoir. This will restore the structural fish habitat that has been lost and improve fishing for all anglers. The AFTCO grant will support this project along with financial contributions and resources from partners such as the Brown County Water Improvement District, Brownwood Bass Club, Major League Fishing Black Bass Stewardship Group, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). TBN Youth Directors will engage youth, high school teams, participating adults, club members, and encourage other project partners and the local community to involve youth and families in this effort.
Improving Low-Water Habitat
Oregon B. A. S. S. Nation’s project aims to improve low-water habitat at Cottage Grove Reservoir through the implementation of Spider Blocks and Stake Blocks. The project plans to conduct this enhancement in phases over a 3-5 year period, placing 200 blocks annually, with 100 blocks designated for Cottage Grove Reservoir and 100 for Fern Ridge Reservoir to help with the reduced low water habitat. Additionally, the project emphasizes youth angler involvement by collaborating with local bass clubs to engage young participants in the construction and placement of the blocks.
Enhancing Reservoir Habitats Across Tennessee
Tennessee B. A. S. S. Nation aims to enhance reservoir habitats across the state through angler education, habitat construction, and partnership development. Collaborating with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and various angler groups, the project will distribute a variety of artificial structures and recycled Christmas trees to multiple reservoirs in different regions of Tennessee to improve fish habitats. The AFTCO grant will fund the materials needed to construct fish attractors and habitat structures. The project emphasizes the involvement of youth anglers with youth habitat construction and cleanup efforts involving hundreds of junior and high school teams demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Enhancing Fish Care Practices at Youth Events
With the growing popularity of youth fishing, Georgia B. A. S. S. Nation’s project aims to enhance current fish care techniques at their youth events and preserve the bass population. With a solid system already in place, they aim to improve their weigh-in system by incorporating pure oxygen and advanced aeration methods to enhance fish care/release tanks, allowing for more recuperation time for the fish before release. They plan to invest in equipment such as oxygen gas cylinders, air blowers, and dissolved oxygen meters to optimize the fish care environment. Furthermore, this project will educate youth anglers on fish care practices and set an example by implementing the best possible weigh-in system, aiming to instill a sense of responsibility and care for the resource among young anglers.
Conclusion
The efforts of these six B.A.S.S. Nation Clubs, along with the support of governmental fishing agencies, local businesses, and volunteers and youth organizations, demonstrate the importance of collaborative conservation efforts. Gene Gilliland, B. A. S. S. Conservation Director, stated, “These grants are a great example of the efforts our B. A. S. S. Nation clubs are putting forth to enhance the fishing in their local lakes and reservoirs…That continued commitment to the B. A. S. S. Nation and to the fishery resources that our sport depends on is unmatched.”
Originally Post From https://thebasscast.com/2024/05/31/aftco-announces-2024-b-a-s-s-conservation-grant-recipients/
Read more about this topic at
Conservation Nation Grant Programs
sfi conservation grant projects
