Sticks and Stones: A Cooperative Effort to Increase Fish Habitat in Smithville Lake, Missouri

Smithville Lake is a 7,190-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) reservoir located just north of Kansas City, Missouri.  Construction of Smithville Lake was completed in 1982, and attracts thousands of water enthusiasts and anglers each year.  Smithville supports a diverse and popular sport fishery including crappie, largemouth bass, white bass, walleye, channel catfish, and flathead catfish.  Like many reservoirs across the country, large, woody, habitat has significantly degraded and currently provides limited habitat for fish.  A cooperative effort between the Missouri Department of Conservation, USACE, Clay County Parks and Recreation, Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership, and local volunteers was established to enhance aquatic habitat in Smithville Lake.  Project objectives include increasing angler-fish interactions and enhancing recruitment of multiple fish species by installing hard woody cover and utilizing large rock for aquatic habitat and erosion control.  Since 2012, over 500 fish habitat structures have been installed, nearly 15 miles of shoreline have been hinge-cut, and 12 major lake points have been armored.  This project has proven to be an excellent example of how cooperative efforts can be used to enhance aquatic habitat and improve reservoir sportfish populations.