LCDC
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Federal budget cuts would close nine fish hatcheries
by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal
Somerset — Trout fishing in Kentucky could be a thing of the past unless $6.3 million are restored in President Barack Obama’s proposed FY2012 budget
for operation of nine trout hatcheries, including Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery below Wolf Creek Dam.
“(The budget cut) essentially would shut us down ... meaning we wouldn’t produce any trout here,” said James Gray, project leader for Wolf Creek
hatchery The facility produces 1 million trout each year and operates on an annual budget of $907,000.
“We stock 115 different waters in Kentucky. Every trout in Kentucky comes from Wolf Creek,” Gray noted.
Dave Baker, editor of Kentucky Afield magazine, official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said shutdown of the
fish hatchery would be “a tragedy.”
Between March 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011 Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources sold 21,789 trout stamps at $10 each, a total of $217,890; 100,000
senior disabled licenses with trout-fishing privileges were sold for $5 each, a total of $500,000; and 39,870 sportsman’s licenses allowing trout
fishing were sold for $95 each, a total of $3,787,650.
“That’s in Kentucky; that’s $4,505,540; that’s huge!” exclaimed Baker. In Kentucky alone, fishing license sales add up to more than two-thirds of the
total $6.3 million budget for the nine fish hatcheries across the entire United States. Total license sales in Kentucky dwarfs the less than $1
million a year to operate the hatchery at Wolf Creek.
The trout hatchery, established in 1975, as well as its new visitors’ center completed in 2006, are focal points of heavily used Kendall Recreation
Area below Wolf Creek Dam. Tailwaters immediately below the impoundment are one of the most popular trout fishing areas in Kentucky. Trout are placed
in Cumberland River at eight locations from the dam downriver to Monroe County, Gray said.
In addition to stocking trout in the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam, the hatchery also supplies trout to tailwaters of Laurel River Lake,
Buckhorn Lake, Carr Fork Lake, Nolin River Lake, Rough River Lake, Barren River Lake, Licking River Basin, Cave Run Lake, Little Sandy River Basin,
Grayson Lake, Yatesville Lake, Big Sandy River Basin, Dewey Lake, Fish Trap Lake, Martin’s Fork Lake, Brookville Lake, Kentucky Lake and streams,
Paintsville Lake, Whitewater River Basin in Indiana and Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina.
The hatchery and visitors center employ eight full-time people whose jobs apparently are threatened by the possible shutdown of the facility. However,
the hatchery’s outreach program and trout fishing in 75 counties in Kentucky provide economic boosts to many rural areas in the state, and several
local elected officials have joined the cry to save the hatchery.
The visitors’ center attracts 100,000 visitors annually, according to the hatchery’s website. Environmental education is a mission of the center and
hatchery personnel give guided tours of the facility. A stream of water rushing from the hatchery is a popular fishing spot for youngsters.
A group called Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is among those rallying support for the threatened hatchery. They are urging signatures on
online petitions and contacts with Congressmen Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield and Senator Mitch McConnell in an effort to get the hatchery money
restored.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
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E_HILLMAN
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So if the trout stamps bring in that much money why not make it a State site?
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Head-Water
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LCNN
by Bill Mardis Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal
Somerset — Trout fishing in Kentucky could be a thing of the past unless $6.3 million are restored in President Barack Obama’s proposed FY2012 budget
for operation of nine trout hatcheries, including Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery below Wolf Creek Dam.
“(The budget cut) essentially would shut us down ... meaning we wouldn’t produce any trout here,” said James Gray, project leader for Wolf Creek
hatchery The facility produces 1 million trout each year and operates on an annual budget of $907,000.
“We stock 115 different waters in Kentucky. Every trout in Kentucky comes from Wolf Creek,” Gray noted.
Dave Baker, editor of Kentucky Afield magazine, official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, said shutdown of the
fish hatchery would be “a tragedy.”
Between March 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011 Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources sold 21,789 trout stamps at $10 each, a total of $217,890; 100,000
senior disabled licenses with trout-fishing privileges were sold for $5 each, a total of $500,000; and 39,870 sportsman’s licenses allowing trout
fishing were sold for $95 each, a total of $3,787,650.
“That’s in Kentucky; that’s $4,505,540; that’s huge!” exclaimed Baker. In Kentucky alone, fishing license sales add up to more than two-thirds of the
total $6.3 million budget for the nine fish hatcheries across the entire United States. Total license sales in Kentucky dwarfs the less than $1
million a year to operate the hatchery at Wolf Creek.
The trout hatchery, established in 1975, as well as its new visitors’ center completed in 2006, are focal points of heavily used Kendall Recreation
Area below Wolf Creek Dam. Tailwaters immediately below the impoundment are one of the most popular trout fishing areas in Kentucky. Trout are placed
in Cumberland River at eight locations from the dam downriver to Monroe County, Gray said.
In addition to stocking trout in the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam, the hatchery also supplies trout to tailwaters of Laurel River Lake,
Buckhorn Lake, Carr Fork Lake, Nolin River Lake, Rough River Lake, Barren River Lake, Licking River Basin, Cave Run Lake, Little Sandy River Basin,
Grayson Lake, Yatesville Lake, Big Sandy River Basin, Dewey Lake, Fish Trap Lake, Martin’s Fork Lake, Brookville Lake, Kentucky Lake and streams,
Paintsville Lake, Whitewater River Basin in Indiana and Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina.
The hatchery and visitors center employ eight full-time people whose jobs apparently are threatened by the possible shutdown of the facility. However,
the hatchery’s outreach program and trout fishing in 75 counties in Kentucky provide economic boosts to many rural areas in the state, and several
local elected officials have joined the cry to save the hatchery.
The visitors’ center attracts 100,000 visitors annually, according to the hatchery’s website. Environmental education is a mission of the center and
hatchery personnel give guided tours of the facility. A stream of water rushing from the hatchery is a popular fishing spot for youngsters.
A group called Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery is among those rallying support for the threatened hatchery. They are urging signatures on
online petitions and contacts with Congressmen Hal Rogers and Ed Whitfield and Senator Mitch McConnell in an effort to get the hatchery money
restored.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY |
As I posted in an earlier thread...(paraphrasing)....This Country's financial situation is more dire than what most will agree or accept, and some
cuts are gonna have to be made, especially on non-essential items. While I don't have any problems with the hatchery...I feel it's a non-essential
item and until this Country is financially able...shutting it down isn't unreasonable.
That being said....I have some issues with the monetary figures given by the respective parties in the above quoted post.
Per the hatchery director, they produce 1 million trout at a cost of $907,000 or .91 cents per fish.
Per KFW spokesman...KFW sold 21,789 trout stamps @ $10 ea for a total of $217, 890.
Now here's where the issues start for me....he further stated that the 100,000 senior licenses sold @ $5 ea produced $500,000.
Then went on to state that they sold 39,870 sportsman's license for a total of $3,787,650.
Now then...because KFW doesn't disclose expenditures on it's website except in the "pie" chart, it has been very difficult to find out what KFW pays
Wolf Creek Hatchery for the trout it receives from them. I found a dollar amount by accident in my attempt on the hatchery's website. That dollar
amount was $350,000.00 from KFW . Using the hatchery's numbers and looking at how many trout KFW stocked....the hatchery was paid .45 cents for
their trout. So the hatchery lost .46 cents per fish. Over 50% of their costs were lost. On another note...because they didn't list all revenue
for the hatchery, and using the only "known" revenue from KFW....they were paid almost 2/3 rds less than their annual budget. Doesn't this sound
typical of most Federal Government Projects? It is NOT a self-sustaining operation.
Now then...a question was asked why doesn't the State or KFW assume operation. Well, from a monetary view....I'm sure they don't wont it. Those 8
souls working at the hatchery would have to take a pay cut, from a federal worker to a state worker would be a huge difference and I"m not sure if any
of them would. Then there is the monetary generating issues....as stated above...the $217, 890 from trout stamps is a definite revenue. However
when it comes to the senior and sportsman licenses, how can they (KFW) attribute those sales entirely to trout? Many seniors and sportsman license
holders don't trout fish. If they use those in support of the hatchery, then the same would hold true for any fish/wildlife cause.
Bottom line....I question highly anything coming from an agency that currently doesn't have any oversight. And to throw any $ dollar amount out there
for justification just doesn't seem right. While FKW does some good work in a lot of areas concerning fish/wildlife, they are highly suspect for
inefficiencies within the department. Why is the KFW so adamantly opposed to having an oversight committee? Makes it even more suspect IMO. Also,
as far as the hatchery is concerned, IMO until this Country is better financially, I would recommend shutting it down.
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Hadtohavit
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Sell them or lease them.
... Let small business produce the fish and make a profit.
Sell the fingerlings to the established clients.
Better to try the private sector management than to just close the operation.
Hatcheries would be a good start for the privatization of these types of government entities... Sell them off. Get them off the books. If they
cannot survive as stand alone businesses... so be it.
If the sport fishermen want the streams stocked... then I guess its going to be more then $10 bucks. I just went to McDonalds for breakfast. Two
meals $8.50 I think that these fish are worth more than $10 bucks a stamp.
While I was looking up the Ky fees... I went ahead and purchased my Non Resident Fishing License for 2011 $50
and well worth it to fish this great lake. 
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Rainbow
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It amazes me the comments people make based on what they don't know. I am not going to set here and type my fingers off, but will provide a few facts.
People either forget or don't know there are two different F&W agencies involved. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Kentucky Department
of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).
The USFWS receives $0 from the Kentucky Trout Stamp sales. There is no federal trout stamp, only state stamps. The KDFWR does use these funds to
support the trout fishing program.
The Wolf Creek NFH has responsibilites and programs other than trout production. Some of the other programs are working with Threatened & Endangered
species, Visitor/Environmental Education Center, Public Outreach, Environmental Education, lots of FREE workshops, events, and programs for the
public.
The USFWS has responsibilities to Mitigate for the impacts of Federal Water Development Projects. In Kentucky, these are Corps of Engineers projects.
In other parts of the country they are TVA, BOR, etc. The USFWS also has Secretarial Tribal Trust responsibilities as well. For Wolf Creek these are
the Cherokee Tribe in NC. The KDFWR reimburses the USFWS for fish produced for non federal programs. The trout produced at Wolf Creek are 55% federal
and 45% sate.
As for privatizing the hatcheries. The USFWS puts a lot of emphasis on genetics and fish health. The genetics of the fish stocked are as pure as you
would have found in the wild 100 years ago and they are healthy, disease free. A private grower will only be interested in the bottom dollar, so you
will be getting the Kroger brand, which will not do well once they are stocked.
The trout produced at Wolf Creek NFH generate $34M in direct economic impact and $50M indirectly. From this $2.3M in federal, state and local taxes
are generated. Over $1M of this is federal taxes, with the remainder in state and local taxes. Again this isn't putting a value on the other programs
at Wolf Creek NFH, only fish production.
The fish produced at Wolf Creek NFH DO generate more in federal taxes than the entire budget of the facility. How many programs in government not only
pay for themselves, but help pay for programs that provide $0 to the federal coffers and do not stimulate the economy?
Do you like to see your tax dollars being spent on something that pays for itself, provides FREE benefits and enjoyment for you and your family,
creates jobs, stimulates the economy, etc. If you disagree with these, you must support more entitlements, government support programs, etc.
For more details look at the documents under Budget Cuts at www.friendsofwolfcreeknfh.com
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Head-Water
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Rainbow
It amazes me the comments people make based on what they don't know. I am not going to set here and type my fingers off, but will provide a few facts.
People either forget or don't know there are two different F&W agencies involved. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Kentucky Department
of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).
The USFWS receives $0 from the Kentucky Trout Stamp sales. There is no federal trout stamp, only state stamps. The KDFWR does use these funds to
support the trout fishing program.
The Wolf Creek NFH has responsibilites and programs other than trout production. Some of the other programs are working with Threatened & Endangered
species, Visitor/Environmental Education Center, Public Outreach, Environmental Education, lots of FREE workshops, events, and programs for the
public.
The USFWS has responsibilities to Mitigate for the impacts of Federal Water Development Projects. In Kentucky, these are Corps of Engineers projects.
In other parts of the country they are TVA, BOR, etc. The USFWS also has Secretarial Tribal Trust responsibilities as well. For Wolf Creek these are
the Cherokee Tribe in NC. The KDFWR reimburses the USFWS for fish produced for non federal programs. The trout produced at Wolf Creek are 55% federal
and 45% sate.
As for privatizing the hatcheries. The USFWS puts a lot of emphasis on genetics and fish health. The genetics of the fish stocked are as pure as you
would have found in the wild 100 years ago and they are healthy, disease free. A private grower will only be interested in the bottom dollar, so you
will be getting the Kroger brand, which will not do well once they are stocked.
The trout produced at Wolf Creek NFH generate $34M in direct economic impact and $50M indirectly. From this $2.3M in federal, state and local taxes
are generated. Over $1M of this is federal taxes, with the remainder in state and local taxes. Again this isn't putting a value on the other programs
at Wolf Creek NFH, only fish production.
The fish produced at Wolf Creek NFH DO generate more in federal taxes than the entire budget of the facility. How many programs in government not only
pay for themselves, but help pay for programs that provide $0 to the federal coffers and do not stimulate the economy?
Do you like to see your tax dollars being spent on something that pays for itself, provides FREE benefits and enjoyment for you and your family,
creates jobs, stimulates the economy, etc. If you disagree with these, you must support more entitlements, government support programs, etc.
For more details look at the documents under Budget Cuts at www.friendsofwolfcreeknfh.com |
What's amazing to me is that some people think the hatchery is an entitlement as well. While people who have lost their jobs, their homes, their
health care, no way to pay their bills, little or no food on their tables...that some people over look those people to petition a cause for their own
enjoyment is typical of a lot of folks these days.
Until this Country is fiscally more able and the economy picks up , when gas isn't $4.00 a gallon, when food costs have stabilized, when anyone who
wants a job, has a job...then I see no problem with funding the hatchery.
The main purpose of the hatchery is to support the stocking of depleted recreational fish populations. PERIOD. Trout are NOT native to any KY
waters so that leaves out the mitigation aspect as that is for natural reproduction, they aren't threatened nor endangered to KY, nor are they
restoring an interjurisdictional population.
On one website it mentions the economic impact of the hatchery, all the way to the manufacturer. 9 out of 10 times, that bait or lure will be made
in China. So yeah...it's helping them out. The hatchery even got $29,000.00 of TARP money that we borrowed from China. $29,000.00 to install
"green" lights. Wonder where the lights came from?
Not only the hatchery, but there's lots of other things that are NOT essential that needs to be put on the back burner until things get better in this
Country. Only when people are able to tell the difference between what's essential and entitlements will things begin to change for the better in
this Country.
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Bluebird
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The first "small wave" of federal, state, local tax budget cuts to avoid federal, state, city, village bankruptcy are now being felt being felt in
every state, city, village.
The trout hatchery funding along with thousands of other funds have been slashed or eliminated.
This first budget cut action has focused on thousands of projects, services that have been taken for granted & I don't think anyone has called them
ENTITLEMENTS.
Today, this thread has people passionately defending & rejecting the Trout Hatchery Funding.
This budget cut pain will be for real for federal employees, local tourist economy and sport fishing enthusiasts.
After the the first of thousands of SMALL BUDGET cuts are executed .....
then Congress , the President, the citizens of the USA still face federal bankruptcy unless we deal with OUR REAL 800 LB DEBT GORILLA - (14 Trillion
In Debt)
This 800 LB DEBT GORILLA must be dealt with now to avoid the inevitable bankrupty of the USA & depression for our children, grandchildren.
As a 69 year old citizen, I fully expect some pocketbook pain & take aways of some existing benefits
as our elected politicians face the daunting task of gaining control of the 800 POUND LB GORILLA that previous Republicans & Democrats created ! To
avoid bankruptcy & depression for the next generation Congress, the President, state, local leaders - ALL THE PEOPLE must BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS &
face the 800 LB DEBT GORILLA!!
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Rainbow
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What is typical these days is everbody wanting a $30-75,000 a year job with benefits with as little work envolved as possible.
There are jobs out there if people want them. I could have 3-4 jobs by dark if I wanted one. The gentlemen over our local Industrial Developement
Authority told me last week one of our factories here had hired 400 people in the last year with only @120 still working. Either they don't want to
work, can't pass a drug test, have poor attendance, etc.
The hatchery does work with T&E species found in Kentucky.
Keep in mind only 12-15% of federal spending is discretionary. The other 85% is Defense and Entitlements. You could cut all 15% of the government that
people actually enjoy and benefit from and still not balance the budget. I stongly support our military, but think Defense spending could be trimmed
and still maintain the best military in the world, I also think Entitlements need to be cut way back.
The hatchery generate $2.3M in federal, state, and local taxes. This doesn't include the profit, jobs, etc. it provides to business and industry.
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squakmeister
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I'm not worried about the Hatchery. Hal Rogers always comes up with the money.
Besides, the interest payment on the national debt is only around $196 billion, or
about 6 percent of the total annual budget.
Let's keep spending like we have been and wait until the interest equals the 15 or
20% that we now spend for entitlements. May be then there won't be an
arguement in Congress as to whether we need to cut back or not.
I would say, we should hit the mark this time next year. Maybe then some folks
in Washington will see the light.
NOT !!!!! Some never will.
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Head-Water
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Probably right squak....he's not called "The King of Pork" for nothing. LOL
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Bluebird
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Speaker of the House-John Boehner pork barrel efforts in his district have been virtually ZERO.
I am betting that Congress people will find his support eliminating any cutbacks will be very difficult to get.
If Mr Rogers really wants to save the Trout Hatchery he should be willing to replace this cutback with other $$ going to the district.
(ie - Future planned highway interchanges / highway extensions thru his district).
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Spoonbill
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Rainbow
I also think Entitlements need to be cut way back.
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I believe the closing of the fish hatcheries is cutting of Government Entitlements and many more Government jobs will have to go also. We never will
like it if our job is the entitlements being cut.
A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner
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Rainbow
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What part of the government would you say IS NOT an entitlement?
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Spoonbill
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Rainbow
What part of the government would you say IS NOT an entitlement? |
National Security
A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner
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Spoonbill
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What is the status of funding for Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery? Has anyone heard?
A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner
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kyvols
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is there a plan to still stock the area if wolf creek closes? do other hatcheries have "extra" capacity and fish would come from there?
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