WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) staff recently began experimenting with the fish habitat at Lake Cumberland.
Staff shared on Jan. 28 on Facebook that they created five experiments using driftwood collected from the lake and repurposed it as fish habitats.
“Driftwood is a constant challenge at Lake Cumberland due to its large watershed, flood events, and lake shape. Rather than treating it solely as waste, our fisheries staff explored a new approach—repurposing driftwood into submerged fish habitat to benefit anglers,” staff wrote.
Read more of the latest Kentucky news
According to the staff, they constructed the experimental sites north of Tate Ramp 2 in Wayne County, a common area where driftwood naturally accumulates. Staff anchored large pieces of driftwood using 2,500-pound concrete bin blocks, and each site had multiple anchors to ensure stability as water levels rise.
KY Fish and Wildlife Resources is experimenting with driftwood to reduce waste at Lake Cumberland. (KDFWR)
The project is at Tate Ramp 2 in Wayne County. (KDFWR)
Driftwood is a constant challenge at Lake Cumberland. (KDFWR)
Staff will repurpose the driftwood to the fish. (KDFWR)
Staff will monitor the project using sonar and electrofishing surveys. (KDFWR)
Staff’s goal to to turn a nuisance into something to improve fishing. (KDFWR)
As of now, this project is purely experimental, and staff will continue to monitor the sites as water levels rise to see how the fish use the driftwood and to ensure stability. They plan to observe using sonar and electrofishing surveys as conditions allow.
“We understand driftwood can be frustrating for boaters. Our goal is to turn a known nuisance into something that improves fishing opportunities while continuing to evaluate safety and effectiveness,” the staff said.
Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news
You can monitor these locations on the Fish Attractor Map, but staff warn that they’re currently exposed at the winter pool. They are not buoyed at this time, as staff believe that the summer pool sites will have enough depth to reduce the risk to boaters.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.