Supes to hear Mad River Hatchery presentation
December 4, 2006
After three years of fundraising, the community effort to keep the Mad River Hatchery open has an end in sight as state funding targeted for fish hatchery operations is expected to begin in the summer.
The hatchery was threatened with closure during state budget cuts in 2003, which resulted in the formation of the nonprofit group Friends of Mad River Hatchery that led a fundraising effort to collect several hundred thousand dollars to ensure that the facility remained open, according to a news release.
The recently passed Assembly Bill 7, which was co-authored by Assemblymember Patty Berg and supported by Sen. Wesley Chesbro, will provide $2.7 million for the hatchery over a several-year period beginning in the 2006-07 fiscal year.
Until that money is received, Fish and Game has requested the Friends help offset some expenses such as equipment maintenance and repairs, purchasing supplies and fish food.
Friends President Dave Varshock and Fish and Game Chief Deputy Director John McCamman are scheduled to sign an agreement Tuesday morning at 11:15 during a presentation at the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors meeting that details the responsibilities the Friends and Fish and Game will undertake to support the hatchery after the funding begins in June.
An open house and celebration are planned at the hatchery following the agreement signing.
“When we began this effort, many said it was not possible – to the contrary, when the community works together, anything is possible, and keeping our hatchery open is a testament to that,” said Phillip R. Crandall, director of Health and Human Services and Friends member
The Friends group, which is comprised of six area fishermen, Dave Varshock, Kenny Richards, Gene Morris, Mark Wetzel, Bob Voght and Phillip Crandall, has received support from Supervisors Jill Geist and Jimmy Smith, who have worked with a coalition of local businesses and individuals to raise several hundred thousand dollars in cash and in-kind labor and volunteer support for the hatchery, which produces approximately 150,000 yearling steelhead annually.
“After all of the uncertainty surrounding the hatchery in recent years, this will be a great day to celebrate a lot of hard work,” said Supervisor Jill Geist. “We’re looking forward to continued cooperation between agencies, private businesses and the community in general.”
It’s estimated that the hatchery generates more than $1 million in tourism-related income each year from fishermen who fish for steelhead.
Fish and Game has signaled its intention to raise steelhead this year and cutthroat trout next year to restock area lakes, such as Stone Lagoon and Fish Lake, which provide fishing opportunities that attract hundreds of local families and out-of-town fishermen.
“The hatchery is an important part of our environment and our economy,” said Humboldt County Supervisor Jimmy Smith. “We are very grateful for the community efforts to keep it open.”
# # #