Cornelia harbor gets new habitat boost

Last week, local conservation officers supervised work on a project that’s good news for fishermen: the installation of a new gravel spawning habitat at the fishing harbor at Lake Cornelia. Over time, the new bed should contribute to higher fish populations and possibly better fish. 

“We’re trying to increase the panfish spawning,” said Eric Rector, ranger and naturalist in the Conservation department.

Fish that will benefit from the increased spawning habitat will include panfish like crappies, perch, and bluegill. Conservation also hopes it will benefit the walleye population, too. However, fish have already spawned for the year, so Rector expected it would be about three years before a newly spawned population would be grown and suitable for fishing.

The $22,000 project was largely paid through a fish habitat grant that’s funded through fishing license fees. To install the spawning bed, a conveyor belt that can extend 105 feet spread 800 tons of pea gravel evenly over about one-third of the harbor bottom.

For the full story, see the July 27 edition of the Monitor.