LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is offering a limited number of Fish Structure Enhancement Type “B” Permits for Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes.
A Fish Structure Enhancement Type “B” Permit authorizes an individual to place a minimum of 25 trees and a maximum of 100 trees in a body of water for the purpose of fish cover enhancement. These trees must have a minimum trunk diameter of four inches and a maximum trunk diameter of 10 inches.
All trees must be provided by the permit holder and shall not be collected from USACE property; however, individuals may pick up felled dead trees or branches along the shore and sink them into the lake for fish habitat as well.
Many of the best fishing locations on Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes are adjacent to brush piles, which attract and hold various species of fish. Added cover to the lake bottom provides diversified cover for all species of fish. Before an individual can cut or sink trees, they must obtain a free permit.
Only 50 permits on Bull Shoals Lake and 50-permits on Norfork Lake will be issued on a first-come, first-served request basis. The applications can be picked up between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Mountain Home Project Office.
The permit application may be mailed to the USACE Mountain Home Project Office, ATTN: Fish Structure, 324 W. 7th St., Mountain Home, AR 72653, but must be received at the Project Office no later than 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2, 2023. Successful applicants will have their permit mailed or emailed to the address listed on their application. All approved applications will expire March 31, 2024. For questions, contact the Mountain Home Project Office at 501-340-1404 or email them at ceswl-mh@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 23-135