The Indiana Bass Federation was awarded $10,000 to place artificial habitat structures and re-stock largemouth bass at the 2,060 acre Cecil M. Harden Reservoir and at Indiana’s largest reservoir (10,750 acres) Monroe Lake. The Cecil M. Harden Reservoir, is a 2,060-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control impoundment located near Rockville, Indiana, adjacent to the Indiana DNR Division of Parks and Reservoir. Fluctuating water levels and steep littoral grade limit aquatic vegetation and shoreline vegetation (trees and shrubs).

Over a 2-year period, this project placed 100 porcupine crib juniors, 100 porcupine cribs, 120 post clusters, 120 rock piles, and 40 felled shoreline trees to enhance approximately 22.7 acres of habitat or 5% of the Habitat Enhancement Zone. Up to 1,030 8 to 10 inch Largemouth Bass are to be stocked biennially starting in the spring of 2018. This would equate to 0.5 fish per acre. Monroe Lake is the largest in Indiana at 10,750 acres and aquatic vegetation, shoreline vegetation and woody debris is very limited in many parts of the lake. To enhance this, 40 porcupine crib juniors, 30 Georgia cubes and 160 Indiana pallet structures were placed to enhance 10% of this area.

In conjunction with the Indiana DNR, the Bass Federation, Bass Unlimited and other volunteer anglers assisted with construction of cribs with local businesses donating some of the materials including pallets, cinder blocks, rock, and lumber. Up to 5,375 8 to 10 inch Largemouth Bass are to be stocked biennially starting in 2019. This would equate to 0.5 fish per acre. FishAmerica funds contributed to materials for construction of in-water habitat structures and purchase of largemouth bass fingerlings.