The Champaign County Forest Preserve will continue to take undecorated, real Christmas trees until Jan. 15 at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Homer Lake Forest Preserve and the Middlefork River Forest Preserve.
Drop-offs are accepted at the marked sites only:
• Mahomet, Lake of the Woods: west maintenance entrance off IL-47;
• Homer, Homer Lake Forest Preserve: near the Maple Sugar Grove;
• Middle Fork River Forest Preserve: at maintenance building.
Some of the trees are chipped for mulch, but others place in the lake to be used as artificial habitat for aquatic species, especially fish. The trees provide protection, food and shade for young fish. In contrast, they also provide great ambush points for predatory fish such as the Large Mouth Bass. The structures are hotspots for breeding and spawning.
For more information call 217-586-3360 or visiting www.ccfpd.org.
