Save Our Hatcheries! |
Background "Established in 1871 by Congress through the creation of a U.S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, the National Fish Hatchery System's (NFHS) original purpose was to provide additional domestic food fish to replace declining native fish. Cultured fish were used to replace fish that were lost from natural (drought, flood, habitat destruction) or human (over-harvest, pollution, habitat loss due to development and dam construction) influences, to establish fish populations to meet specific management needs, and to provide for the creation of new and expanded recreational fisheries opportunities." (NFHS Web Site) Since those times our country has undergone vast projects for controlling floodwaters and generating hydroelectric energy with dams. Agencies like the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers (COE) have constructed dams that have disrupted fish populations across the entire country. These dams have made it almost impossible for natural fish populations to survive on their own. As a result, a primary roll of the NFHS has become mitigation of the effects of those projects. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the NFHS and has been trying to determine who is responsible for funding mitigation activities since Congress never made it completely clear. Currently the FWS believes the COE and other agencies like the TVA are responsible for funding mitigation activities since they are responsible for the projects that require mitigation. Instead of waiting for reimbursable agreements to be fully in place, the FWS proposes to reduce the NFHS's 2012 budget by $6.28 million, the estimated cost to provide mitigation This budget reduction, without a full reimbursement guarantee from agencies like the COE or TVA, may ultimately require the "Shuttering" of at least 9 National Fisheries. Six of those nine are located in the Southeast. They include Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in GA as well as hatcheries in TN, AR and KY. The Hatchery Our TU Chapter has worked extensively with the Chattahoochee Forest Hatchery since the Chapter was formed. Therefore, this description will deal primarily with that hatchery. However, the National Fish Hatchery System is a network of facilities that support each other. When one hatchery has a problem, the other hatcheries make adjustments to overcome the problem. The possibility of 9 hatcheries closing is mind-boggling. In a recent economic study (Caudill and Charbonneau, 2010) many of the benefits of maintaining the hatchery were measured. Each year the Chattahoochee Forest Hatchery provides 324,000 stockable size fish into Georgia lakes and streams. Another 460,000 smaller fish are supplied to Georgia Department of Natural Resources hatcheries. "Recreational angling for fish produced by the hatchery results in considerable expenditures of recreation-related goods and services such as lodging, transportation, boats, fishing equipment and other gear used by the fishing public." Since the entire country is suffering from the current, "Great Depression" the economic effect of closing the hatchery would overtly affect the rural areas is serves. Fish production at the Hatchery provides employment for more than 317 people with over $8.2 million in wage and salary income. Retail sales associated with angler expenditures as a result of stocking by the hatchery amounts to over $15 million/year. More than $4 million of that was for food, lodging and transportation. The total economic output of the hatchery was $28.8 Million. Every dollar spent on the hatchery returned $37.20 to our communities. Keeping the Hatchery operating is just good business. In addition to good business, another benefit of stocking by the hatchery has been brought to my attention. When fishing the local rivers and streams, we often witness local families fishing. Not only is it an activity that keeps families together, as a direct result of stocking these "Put and Take" fisheries, many families are able to put dinner on the table! What can we do? At this point we are still able to influence the decisions that will affect the hatcheries. Budgets have not been passed, only proposed. In the past the USFWS has responded when the public expressed their outrage at the possible closing of the hatchery. Although the phrase "Contact Your Congressman" has been greatly overused, that is exactly what we must do. There are many others that need to be contacted as well. Overwhelming our representatives is the only tool we have. Let them know how important the Hatchery is to our communities and recommend/insist that they restore the $6.28 million in base funding cuts. This funding level is needed to ensure that the NFHS as adequate resources to maintain current levels of fish production and continue to provide outstanding recreational and economic benefits. In this day of email, contacting you representatives is fairly easy. However, I have heard tales of mass emails being ignored by the fine folks who represent us. Use email but follow it up with a letter sent through the US mail. Even if it's just a copy of the email, the volume of mail must be overwhelming or we will just be ignored. Contact the Director and Asst. Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and let them know how important it is to adequately fund the hatcheries. (Click Here) In particular, Tom Graves (R-GA), 9th Congressional District, must be made aware the plight of the hatchery. The hatchery is in the 9th District. Starting on Feb. 1st, Rep. Graves will station members of his staff in counties across the 9th District on Tuesdays in order to provide a personal link to Congress for Georgians. Please attend at least on of these meetings and let them know how important the hatchery is to us. Click Here for the schedule Click Here for contact information for North Eastern GA Legislators Click for the index of all GA Legislators: Senate House Click Here for Representatives in GA, TN, and AR Click Here for contact information for GA's US Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. Click Here for contact information for GA's US Representatives. References on Request: TU692@ngatu692.com Friends Of The Hatchery Letter: DOC or PDF Friends Of The Hatchery Petition: DOC or PDF Send completed Petitions to: Marilyn Parrott, Friends of the Chattahoochee Forest NFH, 2138 Lamp Light Drive, Marietta, GA 30062 Chattahoochee Economic Impact Document: PDF Facts Regarding Potential Loss of Mitigation Funding: DOC or PDF Identifying the Impacts - Mitigation Hatcheries PDF Economic Effects of Rainbow Trout Production PDF A very informative series of letters by Rick Nehrling: Letters #1 Thru #20 From Rick Nehrling DOC Fisheries Stakeholders Letter 8-29-11 PDF Letter #20 From Rick Nehrling DOC COE Reimbursement = $6+ Million versus $3.8 Million = Reality versus Lie! Letter #21 From Rick Nehrling DOC House of Representative and Senate Appropriation Committee’s Decisions Letter #22 From Rick Nehrling DOC When Will the Service’s Directorate and the Department’s and OMB Budget 'Experts' Corrected Their $3.8 million Reimbursable Lie! Letter #23 From Rick Nehrling DOC Senate Mark-up of Service’s FY 2012 Budget Proposal Letter #24 From Rick Nehrling DOC Instead of Removing Names Let's Correct the $3.8 Million Reimbursable Lie! Letter #25 From Rick Nehrling DOC Good News! Letter #26 From Rick Nehrling DOC More Good News! Final - Letter #27 From Rick Nehrling DOC Realities That Come with the FY 2012 Appropriation Bill Recent Articles: Fish hatchery prepares for reduction in services NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY BUDGET CUTS PROPOSED - OVERVIEW Erwin Hatchery closing could have a huge economic impact Budget Will Close 9 Fish Hatcheries TVA Fish Hatchery Fight Headed to Capitol Hill Federal Fisheries Lure Profitable Returns |
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