Lake Shelbyville – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Fisheries biologist, Mike Mounce, in conjunction with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Natural Resource Specialist, Lee Mitchell, successfully wrote and submitted a grant to the Friends of Reservoirs (FOR) on behalf of the Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance (LSFHA) for fish habitat and fishing quality improvements on Lake Shelbyville. Friends of Reservoirs informed the IDNR/USACE/LSFHA about their success for the $30,000 grant this past Tuesday, October 17th. The grant was "almost unanimously" ranked the highest among 11 grants submitted to the review board. The funds will be distributed to the LSFHA through the USACE in late summer or fall 2018.
The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance (LSFHA) is an affiliation of individuals, fishing clubs, tournament organizations, businesses, non-governmental organizations (Living Lands and Waters donated $5,000) and governmental organizations (City of Sullivan, City of Shelbyville, IDNR, and USACE) with the sole purpose of enhancing the fisheries at Lake Shelbyville. This team effort aimed at raising matching funds (including volunteer time value) helped make this grant a success. The LSFHA has placed over 160 Lake Shelbyville cubes and Georgia cubes (fish structure) in Lake Shelbyville within the first year and a half. They intend to place another 400+ within the next two
years and apply to other granting organizations to further this cause. In conjunction with the cubes, aquatic plants are being grown and introduced for additional fish habitat improvements.
Friends of Reservoirs is the funding arm of Reservoirs Fisheries Habitat Partnership, an organization of natural resource professionals and industry representatives, associated with the National Fish Habitat Partnership.
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Release no. 18-047