A team of project partners will cut the ribbon Saturday on a new public-use fish weigh station and pavilion at Beeswax Landing on Lay Lake.

The ribbon cutting is scheduled to take place Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. during the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School Classic tournament.

Alabama Power, B.A.S.S., B.A.S.S. Nation, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and Shelby County teamed up to design and build the 20-by-40-foot pavilion.

It features live wells and water access, which will help reduce stress on fish and increase release survival rates during tournament weigh-ins. It also will provide shade during daylong events.
 “This project began as a discussion about improving the quality of fishing we already enjoy in Alabama through a conservation partnership,” said Eddie Plemons, president of Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation. “A weigh station was a natural fit – providing facilities to the public that protect fish at the same time.”

“This facility is a strong example of community collaboration, through public and private partners, to make a lasting impact on our state’s natural resources,” said Matt Bowden, Alabama Power’s vice president for Environmental Affairs. “We are proud to be a part of this effort.”

More than 200 high school and junior level anglers from across the state are participating in the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School Classic tournament on Lay Lake. Of those, only two will advance to the 2015 Bassmaster High School National Championship.

Randy Howell, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic winner, is serving as tournament weigh master at the Lay Lake event.

“We are always interested in new opportunities to improve the experience of visitors to Lay Lake and Shelby County,” said Chad Scroggins, manager of the Shelby County Department of Development Services. “We are excited about the opportunities this weigh station and other improvements are bringing to Beeswax Landing.”

The weigh-in pavilion is the latest of several recent improvements to Beeswax Landing. Since August 2013, ADCNR has completed a number of renovations to the park, which the county department manages. Boat ramp capacity at Beeswax has doubled with the installation of a four-lane ramp, and new sidewalks and parking comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, a pier has been replaced and the parking lot has been resurfaced.