Nearly 50 Bentonville-area high school students participate in MLF Fisheries Management Division’s first Arkansas habitat restoration project

ROGERS, Ark. (Nov. 11, 2026) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Fisheries Management Division (FMD) , in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Alliance and Kubota Springdale Tractor Co., completed a fish habitat restoration project Sept. 3 at Lake Atalanta in Rogers, Arkansas. Supported by Kubota and Berkley Labs, the initiative brought together 48 local high school students, fisheries professionals and community volunteers to improve aquatic habitat and promote the long-term health of the popular community fishery.

The project marked the fourth habitat restoration initiative completed by the MLF FMD in 2026 and the division’s first in the state of Arkansas.

LINK TO PHOTO GALLERY FROM EVENT

Students from outdoor education classes at Bentonville High School and Bentonville West High School gathered at Lake Atalanta Park to construct and deploy a Fish City habitat system provided by MossBack Fish Habitat. The structures were installed in the 7-acre lake to provide additional underwater cover and habitat for fish, supporting the lake’s aquatic ecosystem and enhancing recreational fishing opportunities for the surrounding community.

Springdale Tractor Co. and Works Equipment Rental LLC provided equipment and personnel to assist with the project, including a Kubota SVL75-3 compact track loader and an RTV-X Series utility vehicle. Staff members helped transport materials around the site and worked alongside students and volunteers throughout the habitat construction and installation process.

In addition to the hands-on restoration work, students had the opportunity to learn directly from fisheries professionals and experienced anglers about the importance of maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.

MLF Fisheries Management Division Director Steven Bardin, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Jon Stein and MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Greg Bohannan spoke with students about fish habitat restoration, responsible fish care and the role that conservation efforts play in sustaining recreational fishing opportunities for future generations.

“Projects like this demonstrate the impact we can make when conservation organizations, industry partners and local communities come together around a shared goal,” said Bardin. “Beyond improving habitat in Lake Atalanta, we had the opportunity to introduce nearly 50 students to the importance of fisheries management and give them a hands-on role in protecting a resource they can enjoy for years to come. That kind of involvement is critical to the future of our fisheries and the sport of fishing.”

The Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Alliance, a nonprofit initiative operating under the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation , works to improve fish habitat in regional lakes and reservoirs through partnerships with schools, community organizations, conservation groups and other stakeholders.

Led by Stein and Bohannan, along with a dedicated network of volunteers, the alliance was named a 2025 Friends of Reservoirs grant recipient through the Reservoir Fish Habitat Partnership, supporting its ongoing efforts to enhance fisheries habitat throughout Northwest Arkansas.

The Lake Atalanta project also highlighted the importance of industry partnerships in making community-based conservation initiatives possible. With support from Kubota, Berkley Labs, MossBack Fish Habitat, Springdale Tractor Co. and Works Equipment Rental, students were able to participate in a restoration effort that combined environmental education with tangible improvements to a local fishery.

Before the event concluded, Bohannan also provided Pringles snacks to each participating student, offering a small thank-you for their hard work and contributions to the project.

MLF’s Fisheries Management Division works with conservation organizations, fisheries agencies, industry partners and local communities to support healthy fisheries, improve aquatic habitat and promote responsible stewardship of recreational fishing resources. The Lake Atalanta initiative continues the division’s 2026 conservation efforts while establishing a foundation for future habitat restoration partnerships in Arkansas.

Individuals interested in supporting the Northwest Arkansas Fish Habitat Alliance and its ongoing conservation initiatives can make donations through the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation at https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/ArkansasGameFishFoundation/NWAfishhabitatalliance.html .

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About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.