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FLW Donates to Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council

FLORENCE, Ala. — In an effort to promote conservation among the fisheries that host its professional bass tournaments, FLW Outdoors has donated more than $6,500 to the Northwest Alabama Resource Conservation and Development Council.

The donation coincides with the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Tour event, held March 1-4 on Pickwick Lake in Florence. At the event, the FishAmerica Foundation and Castrol administered a conservation program through which wristbands were sold for a minimum of $1 each, and proceeds were donated to local conservation efforts.

The wristbands, which signify support for the preservation and restoration of America’s great fisheries, were purchased by both FLW Tour anglers and fans.

A total donation of $6,844, including $344 from wristband proceeds, a $1,500 donation from FLW Outdoors on behalf of the National Guard and each day’s leading pro angler, and $5,000 provided by FLW Outdoors through the FishAmerica Foundation, will be used to plan and implement a stream-bank stabilization project.

The focus of the project will be addressing excessive stream-bank erosion. The environmental benefits include drastic reductions in sediment loads into the Pickwick Lake watershed. The benefits of reducing sediments include lower turbidity, increased oxygen and lower water temperature.

The next opportunity to support the FLW Outdoors and FishAmerica Foundation conservation program is at the Wal-Mart Open to be held on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., April 5-8. All donations received at the tournament will benefit a local fishery.

FLW Outdoors is an organization devoted to giving something back to the communities that host its tournaments. As it has in the past, FLW Outdoors will continue to donate a minimum of $5,000 at each of its seven FLW Tour events in 2006 as well as at a variety of its other tournaments.

FLW Outdoors has also committed to giving $14,000 on behalf of the National Guard and leading FLW Tour pros to the lakes and rivers hosting tour stops in 2006. A $500 donation will be made in the name of the pro leading any given day of a tournament, for a total of $1,500 aiding the host fishery at each tournament. Then a $5,000 donation will be made at the 2006 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship in the name of the pro who led the most days throughout the season.

In 2000, FLW Outdoors announced its partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation, the conservation arm of the American Sportfishing Association. Since then, FLW Outdoors has directly donated more than $285,000 and helped to generate more than $1.7 million for local conservation projects.

“It’s our job to ensure that we leave a fishery is in better condition than when we arrive,” said Charlie Evans, president and CEO of FLW Outdoors. “We do this by maintaining an extremely high live-release rate and by contributing funds for conservation efforts in the host cities where our tournaments are held. Our long-term relationship with the FishAmerica Foundation demonstrates our commitment to continually improving America’s finest waters.”