New East Texas Fish Hatchery Construction Underway
September 4, 2008
JASPER, Texas — Construction of the new $27 million East Texas Fish Hatchery, expected to be completed in early 2010, is now underway.
The state-of-the-art facility on 200 acres just below Sam Rayburn Reservoir will replace the 70-year-old Jasper Fish Hatchery and provide at least 45 acres of fish production ponds capable of delivering up to 4.5 million fish annually for stocking in Texas public waters.
A groundbreaking ceremony near the site of the fish hatchery water intake structure was held on Wed., Aug. 27.
“Once operational, this new hatchery will have the capacity to more than double what’s currently produced at the outdated Jasper Fish Hatchery. This will help meet the growing needs of our recreational angling community,” said Phil Durocher, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department inland fisheries director. “We applaud the generous support of Texas anglers, who stepped up to the plate to help fund this critical project through the purchase of the Freshwater Fishing Stamp, and our partners.”
In addition to stamp revenues, Jasper County in 2004 donated 200 acres of land for the hatchery and the Lower Neches Valley Authority has agreed to provide 10,000-acre feet of water from Sam Rayburn Reservoir for hatchery operation.
Also, Temple Inland provided easements to accommodate the county road as well as all site utilities and water conveyance lines. The U.S. Corps of Engineers will provide easements to accommodate the facility water intake station.
“Texas freshwater anglers are the largest single constituency Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has,” noted TPW Commission Chairman Peter M. Holt. “More fish in more places equals better fishing, and that benefits the quality of life in this state.”
HDR FishPro handled the design and programming contract for the East Texas Fish Hatchery and ALLCO, Inc. of Beaumont has been awarded the construction contract.
In addition to the production ponds, the hatchery complex will feature a 34,000-square-foot production building and an 8,200-square-foot administrative building, which will office 24 TPWD employees, including hatchery, aquatic habitat enhancement and fisheries management staffs, and game wardens.
Hatcheries comprise an important component of freshwater fisheries management at TPWD. Hatchery-reared fish are used to establish new populations, enhance existing populations, support research efforts, and maintain fisheries in small urban reservoirs where natural production will not meet anglers’ needs.
“This hatchery will add a greater degree of operational flexibility and increased production by about two million fingerlings a year,” said Todd Engeling, TPWD hatcheries director. “This hatchery will be used primarily for production of largemouth bass, channel and blue catfish and bluegill sunfish. It will also have the capability of producing striped bass should we need it.”
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Wolf Lake Hatchery Hosts Annual Fish Festival
July 1, 2008
“Fish on!” These exciting words will reverberate through the grounds of the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery on July 19-20, as dozens of youngsters catch a steelhead trout or even a muskie from the half-acre show pond. It’s all part of the hatchery’s 9th Annual Fish Festival.
Admission is free. The festival, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, features tours of the hatchery, catch and release fishing (for children 5-16 only), guided nature hikes, minnow races, food and refreshments, and more.
“The festival is a fun and educational way for families to learn about the important role of hatcheries in providing the quality fishing opportunities Michigan has to offer,” said Wolf Lake Interpreter Shana McMillan. “Most people don’t know the Department of Natural Resources’ six fish hatcheries produce over 750,000 pounds of fish every year for stocking our lakes, rivers and streams. That’s over 62 million fish.”
During their tour of the hatchery, which begins every 20 minutes, visitors will learn how the DNR uses its fish production program to hatch, rear and transport fish required for the management of both Great Lakes and inland fisheries. Species produced at this facility include walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, steelhead trout, lake sturgeon (the only facility to rear this species) and chinook salmon.
“Approximately 40 percent of all recreational fishing in Michigan depends on stocked fish, including most of the Great Lakes trout and salmon fishery,” said Martha Wolgamood, hatchery manager. “Without the number and quality of young fish produced by our fish hatcheries each year, our task would be all but impossible when it comes to keeping Michigan’s sportfishing among the nation’s very best.”
In addition to the tours and catch and release fishing for kids, there will be free lessons on casting and knot tying with live music on Saturday. Inside the visitor center, participants will be able to go virtual fishing to experience the thrill of landing a bass, trout or salmon. Other activities include displays by the DNR and presentations by several local conservation organizations, as well as crafts and other activities for children.
The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center is open Memorial Day - Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday - Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Guided tours of the fish hatchery are offered Monday - Saturday at 10 and 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
The catch and release fishing program for youth continues each Saturday morning through August. Times are at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. Preregistration is required.
Fun Friday programs are offered each Friday through the end of August at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Topics include frogs, turtles, snakes, birds and more. Contact the visitor center for a schedule.
The center is located in Mattawan, at Fish Hatchery Road and M-43, six miles west of the junction of M-43 and US-131. For more information about events and programs, contact Shana McMillan at (269) 668 2876.
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Coursey Springs State Fish Hatchery Closed for Renovations
June 26, 2008
The largest trout hatchery owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) closed for renovations June 1, 2008. Coursey Springs Hatchery has been responsible for about 30 percent of the 1.2 million trout stocked annually by VDGIF. The more than 40 years old hatchery will be completely rebuilt into a new state-of–the-art fish production facility which will include spring protection, covered raceways, and a wastewater treatment facility. Renovations are expected to take 18-24 months.
Even though the Department’s Fisheries Division is planning to utilize every bit of available hatchery space to produce trout at its other facilities, anglers can expect that there will be less trout stocked out during the renovation period. Currently, “designated trout waters” are stocked from 3 to 8 times annually depending on their classification. While the hatchery is under construction, VDGIF will reduce the number of stockings for each category. Category A waters will get 6 stockings from October to May, Category B waters will go from 5 to 4 stockings and Category C, Delayed Harvest, and urban waters will get 2 stockings annually.
Fisheries Division Director Gary Martel hopes trout anglers will be understanding during the renovations. “When completed, the new Coursey Springs facility will not only produce more trout, but anglers should also expect to see larger, better quality fish,” stated Martel. “Total production from Coursey Springs is expected to increase by as much as 50 percent following the renovation.”
Coursey Springs hatchery will be closed to public visitation during construction. Spring Run below the hatchery will be closed to fishing and remain closed during the construction period. The Fisheries Division will be renovating the stream, which will improve water quality and trout habitat.
Members of the public interested in touring a fish hatchery are encouraged to visit the Department’s other four trout facilities located in Marion, Montebello, Wytheville, and Paint Bank. The hatcheries are opened to the public everyday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
For more information on fishing and the trout stocking program in Virginia visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website at www.dgif.virginia.gov
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DNR Coolwater Fish Production Strategy for 2008 Announced
May 9, 2008
After placing a moratorium on coolwater fish production in 2007 because of concerns related to viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSv) in the Great Lakes, the Department of Natural Resources today announced its fish production strategy for 2008.
The DNR plans to produce approximately 2 million spring fingerling walleye - about 20 percent of the normal production -and up to 50,000 fall fingerling muskellunge. Northern pike will not be produced in 2008, and lake sturgeon will be produced in very limited numbers, up to 5,000 fall fingerlings.
“Much has been learned about VHSv in the past year, including experiments on the effect of egg disinfection chemicals on the survival of coolwater eggs, a better understanding of the distribution of VHSv in our waters, and an analysis of scientific literature on similar viruses that was focused on how those viruses are managed,” said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Kelley Smith. “This new information has been incorporated into the 2008 strategy for coolwater production.”
During 2006 and 2007, VHSv was directly implicated in a number of fish kills in Michigan Great Lakes waters, including Thunder Bay in Lake Huron, the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and Budd Lake in Clare County. Budd Lake remains the only inland lake in which VHSv has been detected.
“Although additional information is needed, particularly the effectiveness of egg disinfection in killing VHSv on coolwater eggs, sufficient information is available to allow the DNR to begin to manage the coolwater production risks surrounding VHSv,” said DNR Fish Production Manager Gary Whelan. “While not completely risk-free, the proposed coolwater production strategy will greatly minimize risks, allow the limited production of coolwater fish and allow the DNR to learn how to manage this disease issue.”
A number of measures will be taken in the DNR production system to reduce the risk of VHSv in Michigan’s waters and ensure the health of the hatchery system. They include:
- VHSv testing of all coolwater broodstocks (all were negative in 2007);
- VHSv testing of all coolwater fry prior to moving to rearing ponds and fingerlings prior to stocking;
- The destruction of any hatchery fish that are shown to be positive at any stage for VHSv;
- Disinfecting all coolwater eggs in an iodine solution (Iodophor);
- Raising walleye in non-drainable ponds from which fish can be completely killed off if VHSv is detected in these fish.
Since muskellunge require significantly more fish culture effort and require live feeds, they will be reared in isolated drainable muskie ponds at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. Muskie egg takes are conducted in Lake Hudson and Thornapple Lake, which are far removed from current VHSv-positive locations. When the egg take location is combined with intensive testing of the adults and young fish, a reasonable level of protection against VHSv spread by hatchery operations is provided, Whelan said.
“Muskies give us many more opportunities to test for VHSv as they are typically not stocked from the rearing ponds until the fall, unlike walleyes, which are stocked in early summer,” Whelan added.
“In addition to the fish production biosecurity measures, we are also going to limit the locations to which we stock walleye to further protect our state’s waters from VHSv,” Smith said. “Walleyes will only be stocked in waters from which egg takes were conducted (the Muskegon River and Little Bay de Noc); waters in which Muskegon River and Little Bay de Noc walleye broodstock normally move to; and for Muskegon River walleye only in Lake Michigan or Lake Huron inland lakes that do not have any connections to other waters. The risk is much lower and manageable for muskellunge, so they will be stocked in normal stocking locations.”
Smith said it was important to note that the 2008 strategy was not completely risk-free.
“While the measures we have put in place do reduce our ability to rear and stock coolwater fish, they will also greatly reduce the risk of inadvertently spreading VHSv. We are optimistic that the new testing methodologies and improved disinfection options will allow us to resume full coolwater production in the near future,” Smith said.
Additional details on the 2008 coolwater production program can be found at www.michigan.gov/dnrfisheries
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Genoa National Fish Hatchery Receives Funding for New Outdoor Classroom
May 6, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Genoa, Wisconsin, will receive more than $95,000 as part of the National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006, to apply toward the construction of a new outdoor education classroom.
Plans for the outdoor classroom include the construction of a boardwalk with interactive stations within a working wetland that explain the importance of wetland hydrology, pollution control, and the fish and wildlife that wetlands support. Children and adults will be able to access a wildlife area adjacent to the wetland for unstructured exploration and play. A handicap accessible fishing dock will also create recreational fishing opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Outdoor Classroom and hatchery tours will be available to school groups and to the public.
“The staff and I at Genoa are excited to work with local educators and Service groups to develop this outdoor classroom and learning center. We hope that this effort will help develop the next generation of conservation stewards, and pass along a conservation legacy that our children can respect and admire,” said Doug Aloisi, project leader at Genoa National Fish Hatchery. Aloisi extended his appreciation to Congressman Ron Kind who has been an instrumental advocate for increasing volunteerism and visitor services at National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries.
The Genoa National Fish Hatchery works to recover threatened and endangered aquatic species in the Midwest Region. The hatchery’s current programs include Threatened and Endangered mussel recovery, native fish restoration, and fish production and stocking. The hatchery also works cooperatively with state and tribal partners to restore declining populations of lake sturgeon and coaster brook trout. In 2007, the hatchery produced more than 31 million fish and native mussels of 23 species. Genoa’s groundbreaking work in mussel recovery is also assisting in recovery efforts of two of the Upper Mississippi River Region’s most endangered mussels.
Regional Director Robyn Thorson said that funding this outdoor classroom reflects the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s commitment to providing accessible outdoor teaching facilities that foster an appreciation for nature. “Genoa’s new project will educate people about wetland ecology by opening the doors to a real working wetland. The interactive features of the outdoor classroom will engage and inform local Genoa residents and tourists from across the region.”
Construction of the outdoor classroom is expected to begin in July 2008.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov
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