Over 30 volunteers converged on the Claytor Lake State Park to help the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ John Copeland in the annual Christmas For the Fishes Program. Support from The Friends of Claytor Lake, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Appalachian Power helped build new fish habitat from an amazing 455 donated Christmas Trees. All the created habitat was distributed in areas of the lake surround the Claytor Lake State Park.

Want to help for next year? Donate your Christmas tree and come on out to help everyone put them in place.

Special Thanks to John Copeland for organizing this yearly event and to Ryan Stubblebine and Brody Havens for all the tree collection and preparation work involved.  Thanks to the boat Captains for keeping your passengers safe: Jeff Arnold, Brody Havens, Bill Kittrell, George Palmer, and Jeff Williams.  Thanks to Laura Walters for preparing the lunch chili and goodies.  Thanks to Laura Bullard for setting up the lunch for us.  Thanks to Steve Gregory for coordinating the DGIF Complementary Workforce volunteers.  Thanks to the New River Valley Master Naturalist volunteers who came out as well!