The objectives of this project are to continue the introduction of long-lasting structural and biological habitat to Lake Shelbyville. This will be accomplished through a combination of habitat editions (PVC cube/ artificial stump structures) and plantings of aquatic/semi-aquatic vegetation, both directly on shorelines as well as on artificial floating islands designed to be planted with a high density of vegetation. The artificial floating islands will not only provide a small area of vegetation with various habitat and water quality benefits, but will also provide a long-lasting source of seed to the surrounding area that will germinate when conditions are conducive.

The benefits of these additions include; increased complexity and diversity of habitat for fish and wildlife, decreased turbidity, siltation, and nutrient loading for improved water quality, and improve deep water refuge availability during summer stratification. This will provide increased density of priority game fishes and other desirable organisms for greater quality of experiences for anglers, hunters, ecotourists, and increase local business revenue for increased quality of life for all residents within the influence of the reservoir.

Success of the project will be gauged primarily by improved quality of the fishery, fish use of habitat structures, and secondarily by water quality improvements, bank stabilization, and reduced sedimentation.

Methods

The project will provide deliverables that include (depending on material donations, which have historically been high): a minimum of 100 Shelbyville cubes (8,000 ft3), at least 50 Georgia cubes (2,000 ft3), 25 artificial stumps (500 ft3), and 4,500 ft2 of planted shoreline (likely much more). These structures will be added to the already deployed: 900+ Shelbyville cubes (64,560 ft3), 350+ Georgia cubes (13,840 ft3), 300+ artificial stumps (5400 ft3), 4,000ft2 of planted area, 18 rock reefs (98,000 ft3), and approximately 5,000 feet of severely eroding lake shoreline that has been stabilized with riprap.
These products are anticipated to primarily benefit the following species, but will in effect benefit a much wider diversity of organisms: Largemouth bass (all life-stages), white crappie, black crappie, muskellunge, walleye, channel catfish, flathead catfish, white bass, sauger, bluegill, smallmouth bass, yellow bass, freshwater drum, and gizzard shad, epiphytic insect larvae, and epiphytic invertebrates, zooplankton, and phytoplankton. Secondary benefits of aquatic plants and greater fish and invertebrate density are expected for Unionid mussels, waterfowl, shorebirds, passerine and wading birds, a variety of aquatic and terrestrial mammals, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, grazing and pollinator insects, and a multitude of invertebrates. Stabilization of sediment and shorelines will also benefit a wider diversity of emergent and terrestrial vegetation, than simply those introduced.

Anglers are the most frequent user group on Lake Shelbyville. They and their families also comprise a high percentage of other user groups such as campers, boaters, hunters, ecotourists, and beach patrons for example. This makes preservation and enhancement of the quality of the lake’s fishery, water quality, and aesthetics even more important to stabilize and increase all area activities. The USACE already has very active programs highlighting environmental amenities, nature experiences, and wildlife-based activities and opportunities on lands adjacent to reservoir systems to engage and inform local communities and visiting public on the values and benefits of healthy reservoir systems which helps meet RFHP objectives.

Meeting the goals listed above will not only benefit the organisms and constituents that directly utilize the lake, but the entire community surrounding the lake. Greater user group participation on the lake due to improved angling quality, hunting opportunities, ecotourism, water quality, vegetation stabilization, and overall aesthetics, will restore Lake Shelbyville to a prime quality destination location. Although visitation is somewhat improved due to the improving economy, improvements to outdoor experiences will bring additional tourism and revenue to businesses in the area such as bait shops, marinas, gas stations, grocery stores, motels/hotels, resorts, campgrounds, federal, state, and municipal parks, and others, improving and stabilizing incomes. Increased incomes and stimulation of the local economy from additional outside users will benefit the entire community through increased tax base revenue. This provides a greater quality of life for all residents within the influence of the reservoir, as well as the direct and indirect user groups.

Improvements in the quality of experiences surrounding natural resource enjoyment gives these places greater value to primary users and secondary benefactors alike. Success of projects, like those proposed in this application, promotes greater participation in these activities providing even greater results, not only for Lake Shelbyville, but other reservoirs and impoundments as well. Success also shines a positive light on participating organizations, including RFHP and FOR. This allows for further opportunities to gain additional support and meet organization goals in this and on other reservoirs. Success also provides value to not only preserve but enhance facilities that provide even greater opportunity for participation in quality outdoor experiences. This reservoir already has 14 high quality boat ramps with numerous high-water ramps. Added value to, and use of, the reservoir will only provide impetus to maintain and enhance the facilities.

Monitoring Plan

Success of the project will be gauged primarily by improvements in the quality of the fishery, fish use of habitat structures, and secondarily by water quality improvements, bank stabilization, and reduced sedimentation.

Incidentally, the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Kaskaskia Biological Station, located immediately on Lake Shelbyville, is conducting a study on the use of the artificial habitat structures we have placed in the lake by various fish species. They are evaluating structures using standard electrofishing, deep-water electrofishing, and sonar (side-scan and Livescope sonar)Their evaluations will provide a wealth of information about best management practices (BMPs) in designing and placing fish habitat structures for maximum results. They will also provide additional data to support changes in the fish population, invertebrate communities, and basic water chemistry parameters through their various projects on the lake.

IDNR will annually conduct standardized fish population surveys and stocking success surveys each fall to evaluate changes in fish populations. Parameters easily measured during the time frame of this project include changes in density, size structure indices, and body condition. Species readily evaluated would include primarily largemouth bass, crappie, and muskellunge due to their relative ease of sampling and reliance on the physical and biological habitat being introduced. Goals of CPUE, size structure indices, and body condition are listed in the management plan for the lake. Anecdotal evidence will also be collected from the numerous fishing guides, tournament directors, and anglers who fish around these various habitat additions.

Plantings will be monitored on a regular basis (monthly at minimum, more during the growing season). The artificial floating islands will be closely monitored (every 2 weeks minimum) to evaluate success and monitor for depredation. Willow plantings will be monitored the spring following their planting, and on a monthly basis during the growing season to monitor for survival, growth, and to monitor for depredation.

Measurements of water quality changes will be difficult to obtain on such a large and highly fluctuating reservoir. USACE monitors water quality parameters and those will be followed and evaluated. INHS will likely obtain water quality measurements in treatment versus “control” coves.

Outreach Plan

The Lake Shelbyville Fish Habitat Alliance has an established Facebook page with frequent updates, as well as a monthly newsletter that is disseminated by email and facebook. The USACE has an established Facebook page and webpage in which we will post updates. The IDNR has two Facebook pages that will post updates. Local businesses, Chip’s Marine, Friends of Lake Shelbyville, and fishing clubs post updates on their Facebook pages and/or websites. We continue to provide information and encourage them to continue to publicize our activities, include grant awards from the organizations mentioned above and others.

We will arrange news conferences to announce major grants, and already utilize press releases distributed to a wide ranging list through the USACE to make announcements about this project and hold an annual “State of the Lake” in April, highlighting habitat projects and partnerships. We have and will continue to make radio show appearances to promote and update these efforts and contributors.

Banners were placed at all major boat launches around the lake in 2021 to publicize the habitat project and to thank our partners, including FOR and RFHP.

We have encouraged participation by anglers in habitat events by delaying the availability of new habitat maps online and only providing maps of new attractor locations to anglers who help with a build. The utilization of a fish attractor “Placement Committee” made up of local anglers and guides promotes “buy-in” as input from some the most knowledgeable anglers on the lake help dictate the locations where habitat structures are placed. This committee is still being added to as opportunity permits.

The LSFHA has held an Annual Fish Habitat Banquet with overwhelming success, raising over $20,000 at each event with 100% of profits going towards habitat improvement projects.

The LSFHA works with several area schools to promote participation by youth, including providing materials for students to build cubes themselves, and then participate in the subsequent placement of those cubes. LSFHA plans to continue discussions with Shelbyville High School to have their agriculture program (with a greenhouse) raise aquatic plants for shoreline and artificial vegetated island plantings. Plans were made to begin this program in 2020 but were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope to get plan ironed out to possibly begin this program in Fall of 2021.