With all of the gift wrappings and other trash accumulated over the Christmas weekend being picked up by Oxford’s Environmental Services, there is one more item that needs to be hauled to the curb.

It’s almost time to say goodbye to O Tannenbaum — the family Christmas tree.

Trees can be taken to the curb to be collected starting this week on regular rubbish (yard waste) collection days.

This week’s rubbish collection (for New Year’s) will be on Wednesday. The holiday will not affect trash pickup for New Year’s since Wednesday is not a regular route collection day.

The trees should be free of lights and decorations.

The trees are picked up, and then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collects them to take them to the lakes.

The trees will be stored until Fish Habitat Day, usually held the first week of February, when volunteers will come together to unload the discarded trees and put them in various spots in Enid Lake to create fish habitats. The trees are staked down to keep them in place, where they will become new spawning areas and homes for fish.

Cedar and discarded Christmas trees are used to construct fish shelters in targeted areas. The actual placement of fish shelters is accomplished by interested volunteers who donate their time and equipment. They drag the trees with ATVs and anchor them with concrete blocks and other weights along creek beds and other designated areas.

Restoration of the fish habitat is very important to the future fisheries at Enid Lake, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Enid Lake’s website.

Fish use these shelters for various reasons: cover, areas to feed, and for a place to spawn. Also restoring the habitat can increase the health and populations of fish. According to studies performed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, the restoration program has shown enormous benefits to the fish and habitat in Enid Lake.

For those living in the county or who want to take their trees directly to the U.S. Army Corps, Christmas trees, free of lights and decorations, can be brought to Enid Lake McCurdy Point boat ramp. At the top of the hill, coming into McCurdy, there is a grassy area on the left. Trees can be placed along the road.

For more information, contact the Enid Lake Field Office at 662-563-4571