Christmas Tree Drop Locations

Christmas Tree just dropped into a waterbody.

Recycle your Christmas Tree and Provide Habitat For Fish

Pictures taken of various steps in the tree relocation process.

After the holidays, as you are boxing up your ornaments and putting things back in place, please consider recycling your natural tree at one of the below-listed drop-off locations. The Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologists are collecting Christmas trees to be used as fish habitat in local lakes. Real trees provide cover for small fish and places for growth of algae that is fed on by aquatic insects, and also attract larger fish that can be caught by anglers.

The collected trees are bundled together, weighted, and submerged at spots around the lake. Often called brush piles, the submerged trees provide critical habitat for all life stages and multiple species of fish. The trees will decompose due to natural processes and need to be replenished every few years. Maps and coordinates of the brush piles are available on our lake pages on this site or from the biologist for that lake (contact information also on the lake pages).

Please place your tree in the designated area listed for each site during the drop-off dates. All trees must be free of stands, lights, ornaments, and tinsel. Only trees are being accepted (i.e., no wreaths or garlands) due to the method used for binding and deploying them.

Below please find the Illinois drop-off locations. Click on the site name for a Google Map location. We appreciate you helping us to provide habitat for fish!

County	Site	Address	Site Instructions	Waterbody	Drop Dates
Northwest
Stephenson	Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Park	N Lake Rd.	Follow signage to drop-off location.	Lake Le-Aqua-Na	12/27/2025 – 1/11/2026
East Central
Macon	Nelson Park	2215 East Cantrell Steet	Place trees in designated area near the old Paul's Puttin' Place, north of the Marina Office	Lake Decatur	12/27/2025 – 1/16/2026
Moultrie	Howy's Lakeside Gas Station	801 IL-32	Place trees in designated area (orange snow fence) north end of parking lot	Lake Shelbyville	12/27/2025 – 3/1/2026
Shelby	Johnstowne Mall	IL-16	Place trees in designated area (orange snow fence) NW corner of parking lot	Lake Shelbyville	12/27/2025 – 3/1/2026
West Central
Clinton	Spillway Recreation Area	Carlyle Dam Road	Place trees in designated area marked bysignage near Littl ePriarie Nature Trail (west of spillway)	Carlyle Lake	12/27/2025 – 3/1/2026
Clinton	Plant Land Garden Center	12920 Old U.S. 50	Place trees in designated by signage	Carlyle Lake	12/27/2025 – 3/1/2026
South
Marion	City of Centralia — Public Works Building	114 E. 5th St.	Place trees near the south gate	Centralia Lake, Raccoon Lake	12/278/2025 – 1/18/2026
Marion	Stephen A. Forbes SRA	Boat Ramp (East of dam)	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Forbes Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Richland	Olney Municipal Parking Lot	Corner of E. Butler and N. Boone Streets	Place trees inside of barricades in the northeast corner of parking lot	East Fork, Borah, and Vernor Lakes	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Jasper	Sam Parr SFWA	Main (southwest) Boat Ramp	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Sam Parr Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Jasper	Newton SFWA	Southwest (warm arm) Boat Ramp	Place trees in designated area on northwest side of parking lot	Newton Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Wayne	Sam Dale SFWA	Main Boat Ramp (south end of lake)	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Sam Dale Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Lawrence	Red Hills State Park	Main boat ramp on northwest side of the lake	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Red Hills Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Wabash	Beall Woods State Park	Boat Ramp (Southwest side of lake)	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Beall Woods Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026
Fayette	Ramsey Lake SRA	Boat Ramp (east side of lake)	Place trees in designated area near the boat ramp	Ramsey Lake	12/27/2025 – 1/18/2026