WARREN — The USDA Forest Service announced a collaborative project to improve aquatic habitat in the Allegheny watershed.

In partnership with the Kinzua Fish and Wildlife Association and US Army Corps of Engineers, over 140 concrete fish cribs were installed in the Allegheny Reservoir in August. These structures provide shelter, protection, and food sources for a variety of fish and aquatic species.

The first installment of these structures, coined as “Allegheny Lodestones,” were installed in small bays near the Kinzua Dam by boat and crane. The word lodestone means a magnet or something that strongly attracts. These structures were designed to attract young or small fish to dwell inside them. The presence of these prey fish attracts larger game fish of interest to anglers.

Allegheny Lodestones were designed in part by Allegheny National Forest’s Aquatic Ecologist, Nathan Welker. He said, “The lodestones were modeled after much larger, heavier duty structures commonly used in the ocean. This freshwater design will not only benefit fish found in the (Allegheny) Reservoir, but also the (Allegheny) River, as many fish migrate upstream from the reservoir into the river to spawn annually.”

The lodestones were locally manufactured and collaboratively designed by Whitmire Outdoor Living Products (WOLP) located in Warren. WOLP specializes in the production and distribution of concrete blocks and related products.

Plans are in place to install more lodestones into the Allegheny Reservoir each year to create a positive long-term effect on the Allegheny fish community. These structures will replace more temporary fish habitats made of wood, which decay relatively quicker in aquatic environments.

For more information, contact Nathan Welker at nathan.welker@usda.gov or (814) 728-6163.