Lake Eufaula is our industrial park, says City Manager Jeb Jones.

Fishing tournaments and amateur anglers who frequent the lake have a tremendous economic impact on Eufaula.

“We wanted to do something to help the fishing industry,” Jones said.

To that end, the city contributed $10,000 to help support an artificial fish habitat sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

“The federal government was offering a three-to-one match if we wanted to contribute,” he said.

The $10,000 investment by the city resulted in $30,000 toward the creation of 119 Shelbyville Artificial Habitat Cubes which have been placed at 55 locations around the lake.

The habitats will act as “deterioration and wash-out resistant cover for various fish species as organic material collects around the structures.”

The area has entered the busiest fishing season and the Wildlife department says it would like to get the word out so anglers can use artificial habitats.

The department has created a Fish Attractors Map at wildlifedepartment. com. The project is possible through the cooperative effort of Eufaula, the Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Jones said ‘the city is interested in participating in the project again next year.’

“It’s good money to leverage,” he said.