FLW Outdoors donation helps develop new fish habitats in Logan Martin Lake
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In an effort to promote conservation among the fisheries that host its professional bass tournaments, FLW Outdoors has donated $5,000 to the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. The donation will go toward the Aquatic Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Program, and the funding provided by FLW Outdoors through the FishAmerica Foundation will be used specifically to develop new fish habitats and fishing reefs in Logan Martin Lake.
The donation coincides with the 2004 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship presented by Castrol, held Aug. 11-14 on Logan Martin Lake near Birmingham. The new fish habitats, which consist of brush piles, cut trees, riprap and native aquatic vegetation, will provide food, cover and spawning areas for bass and other sport fish. They will also provide added angling opportunities.
Steve Rider, aquatic habitat coordinator of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, said the generous donation from FLW Outdoors will serve to bolster the restoration program. Rider says his department hopes to start work by spring 2005.
“We are beginning a statewide initiative,” Rider said. “This seed money will help us launch a project soon on Logan Martin Lake. When we get the program going, we’ll get the equipment and go out there and initiate the program.”
The donation further establishes FLW Outdoors as an organization devoted to giving something back to the communities that host its tournaments. As it has in the past, FLW Outdoors donated $5,000 at each of its seven Wal-Mart FLW Tour events in 2004 as well as at a variety of its other sanctioned tournaments.
FLW Outdoors remains committed to conservation in 2004 through its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association. In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation. Since then, FLW Outdoors has directly donated nearly $200,000 and helped to generate more than $1 million for local conservation projects.
“In partnering with FishAmerica, our goal is to have a positive impact on the fisheries and host cities where our tournaments are held,” said Charlie Hoover, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “We are proud to be able to contribute to improving the quality of the lakes on which we hold our tournaments. Protecting America’s waters is a huge commitment, and we will continue with our efforts in this ongoing process.”
FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world’s most lucrative bass tournament series; the EverStart Series, the pathway to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour; and the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers. FLW Outdoors also operates the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail; the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Tour, the world’s most lucrative walleye tournament series; and the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye League for weekend anglers.