In Kentucky, more than 80,000 feet of leftover or unused pipe donated by Atmos Energy—roughly 15.15 miles’ worth—is now home to freshwater fish, giving them places to spawn, feed, hide and mature.
Since 2015, Atmos Energy employees have donated pipe otherwise destined for a landfill to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for use as underwater fish habitats. The pipe has been used to build more than 3,000 structures in 20-plus lakes and reservoirs across the state.
According to Mike Lewis, Atmos Energy supply chain specialist, the project is a good example of two organizations working together to achieve a mutual goal.
“Our crews will handpick pieces of scrap pipe, set them aside for pickup and then help load the pipe onto a Department of Fish and Wildlife trailer,” he told American Gas. “The department then takes that pipe to construct and deploy the ‘fish trees.’”
For these fish trees, a large-width pipe forms the “trunk,” which can be anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall. A hole saw is used to drill small openings up and down the trunk to attach the smaller “limbs.” A 20-by-20-inch base is made by pouring concrete into a wooden frame reinforced with rebar. After the concrete sets, the base weighs approximately 120 pounds.
Once completed, several trees are placed on a trailer and hauled to a state-owned or state-managed lake, where they are loaded onto a work boat for deployment.
In 2022, the project received a conservation certificate from the Wildlife Habitat Council.
“As we learned more about the program, we felt like it was a great fit,” Lewis said. “Many of our employees fish the lakes where these attractors are being used and get to see them in action.” —Eric Johnson