Photo provided to the Times Observer US Forest Service Recreation Technician Eric Fijas, operates the crane as US Army Corps of Engineers Maintenance Mechanic, Justin Perrin, assists in placing a lodestone into the Allegheny Reservoir.

The Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered to get the Longhouse Scenic Drive project done.

That partnership relied on the Corps’ project management experience.

The Forest Service has returned the favor by partnering with the Corps of Enginers on a fish habitat project on the Allegheny Reservoir.

Along with the Kinzua Fish and Wildlife Association, over 140 concrete fish cribs were placed in the reservoir in August.

“These structures provide shelter, protection, and food sources for a variety of fish and aquatic species,” Christopher Leeser, the Allegheny National Forest’s public affairs officer, said.

“The first installment of these structures, coined as ‘Allegheny Lodestones,’ were installed in small bays near the Kinzua Dam by boat and crane,” he explained. “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.”

The Allegheny Lodestones were designed in part by Nathan Welker, the ANF’s aquatic ecologist.

“The lodestones were modeled after much larger, heavier duty structures commonly used in the ocean,” Welker said. “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 manufactured locally by Whitmire Outdoor Living Products in Starbrick.

“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,” Leeser said. “These structures will replace more temporary fish habitats made of wood, which decay relatively quicker in aquatic environments.”