COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 2, 2006) - During the Wal-Mart FLW Tour's Chevy Open held Feb. 8-11 anglers and fishing fans will have the opportunity to help preserve Lake Murray. At the tournament hosted by the Capital City, Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the FishAmerica Foundation and Castrol will administer a conservation program through which wristbands will be sold for a minimum of $1 each. The wristbands signify support for the preservation and restoration of America's great fisheries. The funds raised at the event will be used to improve fish habitat in Lake Murray by placing water willow colonies along the shoreline. The water willow is a native plant that will improve littoral zone habitat for a variety of sportfish species.
Wade Bales, region three freshwater fisheries coordinator with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said the goal of the project is to establish native shoreline-orientated plants that will offset the loss of habitat. "We've got a healthy bass population, but we haven't formally conducted our assessment since 2001," Bales said. "Since then we've experienced some dramatic changes."
In 2003, grass carp were introduced into Lake Murray as a means to eradicate non-native hydrilla and alligator grass. While hydrilla serves as suitable bass habitat, the invasive species was choking the lake and was extremely difficult to manage. Water willow on the other hand has been successfully implemented in other local lakes such as Lake Marion and Richard B. Russell.
"Water willow provides excellent shallow-water habitat for young bass," Bales said. "It grows in stands and creates a really good home for aquatic insects and younger fish. We encourage anglers not to take matters into their own hands and plant hydrilla. Please allow us to do any habitat improvements."
Bales hopes to have 30 to 50 water willow colonies planted this June. Their growth will be monitored frequently through Oct. 2006 for initial estimates and annually post 2006.
FLW Outdoors is an organization devoted to giving something back to the communities that host its tournaments. As it has in the past, FLW Outdoors will continue to donate a minimum of $5,000 at each of its seven FLW Tour events in 2006 as well as at a variety of its other tournaments.
In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association. Since then, FLW Outdoors has directly donated more than $285,000 and helped to generate more than $1.7 million for local conservation projects.
"It's our job to ensure that we leave a fishery in better condition than when we arrive," said Charlie Evans, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. "We do this by maintaining an extremely high live-release rate and by contributing funds for conservation efforts in the host cities where our tournaments are held. Our long-term relationship with the FishAmerica Foundation demonstrates our commitment to continually improving America's finest waters."
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail, Stratos Owners' Tournament Trail, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series. These circuits offer combined purses exceeding $36.9 million through 241 events in 2006.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournament programs, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.
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