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In 2024/25, the Friends of Lake Columbia, in partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), successfully leveraged a Mossback Grant by matching it with an additional $2,197. This partnership resulted in the acquisition and deployment of 22 Mossback habitat structures, which established three new near-shore, shallow-water habitat locations on the lake's south side to benefit bank anglers.
Building on this success, we are now seeking to enhance the north side of the reservoir. For this project, we will match the grant with $2,000 in materials and in-kind contributions from AGFC staff to create three additional near-shore habitat locations (in areas with ample bank access) and 3 additional open water sites on the north side of the lake. We estimate deploying between 30 and 50 new fish habitat structures.
S: Create 6 fish habitat locations on the north side of the lake.
M: The completion of 6 distinct new habitat sites with the addition of 30-50 new habitat structures added to the lake.
A: Proven to be achievable by last year's successful project.
R: Directly supports the overall project goal of improving the fishery as outlined in AGFC's fishery management plan.
T: Completion of project will be no later than December 1, 2026.

A key component of this project is its focus on hands-on education and community partnership. Student volunteers from Southern Arkansas University will construct the habitat structures under the direct mentorship of fisheries professionals from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). Once assembled, these structures will be transported and precisely deployed at the five designated locations using 20-foot work barges. To maximize public benefit, the GPS coordinates for each new habitat site will be published on the AGFC website and promoted widely on social media. This comprehensive approach ensures the project not only enhances fish habitat in areas with little natural structure but also directly creates and publicizes new, accessible angling opportunities for the entire community.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be involved with planning, site selection, and participation. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yPvmNPzXkYAcQ6YQR6npJdWIxooTKmZI/view Habitat objectives are outlined on page 7

Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Redear Sunfish, Bluegill

This project emphasizes community engagement and educational outreach through our continued partnership with Southern Arkansas University (SAU). We will provide SAU students with valuable hands-on experience in habitat construction and unique mentorship opportunities with fisheries and natural resource professionals. A volunteer workday will be promoted through SAU's academic departments and on the AGFC Facebook page to reach the broader community.
Our 2024/25 project successfully engaged 16 volunteers (14 students and 2 community members), and we aim to recruit a similar or greater number of participants for this initiative.