putting structure on ice?

not sure what the laws are anymore concerning this, but is it legal to put Christmas trees or pallets on the ice, to later sink and be used as crappie attractors?

having talked to the commission recently about habitat improvement.  I am confident that you will be in a lot of trouble if your sink a christmas tree on a public waterway.

mohawksyd, post though begs an interesting question.  couldn't you do so on a private pond?  I was thinking that you could stock with impunity, break all kinds of fishing regs, and do whatever on an entirely private waterway...

anyway the way that the fish commission feels about it, is that all habitat improvement must be done in a methodical basis, strictly where there is data to suggest that the improve would improve or restore the fisheries of the lake.  That is why for example, I was shot down in my suggestion to add a few cribs to chapman dam.  The fish commission felt that the waterway had other issues that limited the fishery of the lake.

so, if I see in you in the middle of the night driving with your lights off and a christmas tree in the back, on some lonely dirt road near a major reservoir-  I won't say a word

Man rap, simple question, more complex answer....
I've wondered the same thing, so I decided to do some digging. Here's what I come up with;
you need 2 permits, one from the US Army corps of engineers & one from the DEP.
But if you get the DEP permit, it automatically covers the COE permit too.

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PERMIT REQUIREMENTS (Section 404)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, requires a
permit to place any material (or structure or device) in any waterway (stream or impoundment)
with a flow greater than five cubic feet per second. A general permit (SPGP-3) must be
obtained for the construction, installation and maintenance of Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission-approved Fish Habitat Enhancement Structures in waters of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. SPGP-3 is automatically covered by the approval of the Pennsylvania general
permit (BDWW-GP-1).

DEP permit (BDWW-GP-1) linked here---> http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/Get/Document-72784/3930-PM-WM0501.pdf
The good news,

There is no registration fee required for a project authorized under this
General Permit

As far as dragging your old Christmas tree out onto the ice....well...I saw someone do that once...


Stay on top

In Kinzua Willow bay has pallets and the area south of Redbridge has Christmas trees.
I took photos a few years ago when the water was low.
That was pre-digital and do not know where they are

Permit(s) are required. Perhaps the waterway in question is enrolled in the Adopt-A-Lake Program? Contact the PFBC Habitat Division or look on their website to check.

Habitat improvement projects are scheduled annually on these waterways. Volunteers are often needed and appreciated.