news-record.com

High Point Central senior Eric Leigh, 18, knew he didn't want to construct a bench for his Eagle Scout project. Troop 55 has produced enough benches, he thought.

The troop's scoutmaster suggested creating artificial fish habitats. As someone interested in biology and environmental issues, Leigh was intrigued and researched the idea.

Many times, old Christmas trees, with concrete to weigh them down, are tossed into lakes to create an area for fish to seek shade from the sun and protection from predators. But as the organic material decays and breaks down, the lake's pH levels are increased, endangering sensitive wildlife and leaving the concrete behind.

While searching online, Leigh discovered a design someone had created with PVC pipes and barrels.

The PVC lasts longer than trees while still providing an area for the fish.

There wasn't an up-to-date design, so Leigh first created a model out of tin coffee cans cut lengthwise attached to plastic pipes.

From there Leigh built his artificial fish habitats out of 50-gallon drums and several different lengths and sizes of PVC pipe.

"We used recycled materials down to the molds for the concrete," said Leigh. "So we're helping the landfills and the lakes." The concrete molds were milk jugs.

For weeks, the Leigh driveway was an outdoor workshop. PVC pipes, stuck in concrete-filled milk jugs, looked like an army of slender soldiers waiting for orders. Other pipes connected the soldiers to 50-gallon drums, halved lengthwise.

The barrels are connected in a way that allows them to rotate if a boat knocks into one. Standing 6 feet tall, the structures create two levels of four half-barrels for the fish to hide under and around.

Buoys were attached to the structures so they would be easily located in the lake for future research and to help warn boaters about the structures.

Leigh hopes his artificial fish habitats will have a positive impact on the local fish populations in the lake.

To become an Eagle Scout, teens have to design a community project and rally and lead a group of volunteers to implement those plans, so as to demonstrate the teen's leadership skills.

From April to September, Leigh and volunteers donated 168 hours to the project. That includes hours of planning and designing the project. Leigh had to seek approval for the project from the city and a scout council, raise funds and mobilize volunteers.

Materials and costs for the project totaled $1,283.40 -- all donated money or in-kind gifts of materials.

Leigh hopes to create a Web site that will detail his design so kids can use his project to help other fish populations.

"A lot of schools require kids do community service," he explained. "This is a large project, but it gives great results."

He also hopes to improve his design.

"I'd like to have info on (the effects on) the fish population before I move ahead," he said.

Contact E.A. Seagraves at 883-4422, Ext. 241, or elizabeth.seagraves@news-record.com