11-13-2013, 12:20 AM
I just finished speaking with Mark Olson, asking questions about the fishing program and exchanging our overall concerns about losing the trout program. Here is a summary of some information I gathered from him, followed by the questions he eagerly answered for me:
Needed spending for infrastructure: The pipelines that Olson mentioned are two large pipes that run westward into the body of the river, drawing up water to feed the pools where trout are reared--one pipe lays near the floor of the river, the other rests higher in the water column, enough to be exposed with low enough water levels. The first pipe (nearest the bottom) sustained wear-and-tear damage through the years without proper maintenance, and has since sustained debilitating damage--this pipe was shut off in the past year. The second pipe, which is higher in the river's water column, needs to be repositioned so that it can still draw water even in low water conditions--otherwise, there will be no water flow into the pools. Estimated repairs for the project was projected at 2.5 million dollars in 2011.
Major Reason for Programs Possible Elimination: Olson was emphatic in citing automatic spending cuts (federal sequestration) as the sole reason for the program seeing an end.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Is the situation looking more like a temporary suspension of the trout program, or a closure without an end in sight?
--I really can't say. If you're familiar with sequestration (automatic spending cuts), you'll know that the spending cuts that were such a big issue in 2011 went into effect January 2nd 2013 and have since been effecting the hatchery (I'll have updates for this question soon). I do know that we don't have any more eggs left and are working with the remainder of our stock--I spoke with [my superior] and she said that there isn't a definite decision to close the program yet.
2. Will the Willow Beach National Hatchery go the way of the Lake Mead Hatchery?
-- Lake Mead hatchery was a different beast than what we're seeing here at the Willow Beach Hatchery. What happened at Lake Mead was due to more ecological factors than economic or budgetary ones, which is what is happening with us.
3. If the program is ended, will razorback sucker and bonytail still be reared?
--Yes, these species are part of a 50 year program called the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (http://www.lcrmscp.gov/index.html). The trout rearing program is funded separately by the Fish and Wildlife Department.
4. To be clear, what is the most important reason/reasons that trout are stocked?
--The trout are stocked strictly for game, there is no immediate ecological advantage to stocking the trout...this is one reason why the program is on the chopping block, because it is seen by the regional director of Fish and Wildlife as one of the non-essential items in the budget that can be cut. Willow Beach will really suffer without a trout program since a large number of visitors come for trout and fishing. I'm sure we'll still have people coming to boat and kayak, but a good portion of visitors just won't be here, or spending money for trout and Colorado River stamps.
5. You say the final "word" isn't in yet about the program closure--what or who makes a final decision? Where would pressure be best applied by concerned fishermen and supporters of Willow Beach?
--Stewart Jacks is the Assistant Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services. He oversees the budget for region 2 (this includes several states, Willow Beach falls into Region 2), and is a major decider of what is essential or non-essential to the budget--he would decide on what will be cut. Remember, all matters concerning the budget comes from Washington first, and then to the Regional Director to be itemized. He would be most helpful in discussing options and solutions.
Ending our conversation, Olson gave me the e-mail address to contact Stewart Jacks (Who is an avid fisherman by the way, the first picture I found is of him holding a mighty hog of a bass!), who he said would be very instrumental in helping build a case for the Willow Beach trout program. He asked that I contact him and ask the same questions, as well as send a copy of our conversation back to him (Mark Olson).
At the moment, I'm trying to build a good story that a local news or radio station will want to pick up. One sticking point that I think would resonate with locals is the fact that the hatchery has been stocking trout for more than 40 years (Since 1959!), and has been a long-lasting location for locals to retreat to. If you have any contacts, information, or stories that you think would be helpful, e-mail me so I can gather this stuff together rulonhardy@aol.com. The more people that are involved and taking this personally, the more efficient we can be in making sure we have a good stake in making lasting decisions about the quality of our local waters. We aren't victims of "the way things are", we're all deciders of how things will happen to us as fisherman and outdoorsman as a whole. Spread the news about this, and think of solutions or plans of action to take so we can keep the trout program in place. How many other hatchery programs have been halted? If they think the Willow Beach trout program is non-essential to the budget, imagine what else will be non-essential in the future.
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Needed spending for infrastructure: The pipelines that Olson mentioned are two large pipes that run westward into the body of the river, drawing up water to feed the pools where trout are reared--one pipe lays near the floor of the river, the other rests higher in the water column, enough to be exposed with low enough water levels. The first pipe (nearest the bottom) sustained wear-and-tear damage through the years without proper maintenance, and has since sustained debilitating damage--this pipe was shut off in the past year. The second pipe, which is higher in the river's water column, needs to be repositioned so that it can still draw water even in low water conditions--otherwise, there will be no water flow into the pools. Estimated repairs for the project was projected at 2.5 million dollars in 2011.
Major Reason for Programs Possible Elimination: Olson was emphatic in citing automatic spending cuts (federal sequestration) as the sole reason for the program seeing an end.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
1. Is the situation looking more like a temporary suspension of the trout program, or a closure without an end in sight?
--I really can't say. If you're familiar with sequestration (automatic spending cuts), you'll know that the spending cuts that were such a big issue in 2011 went into effect January 2nd 2013 and have since been effecting the hatchery (I'll have updates for this question soon). I do know that we don't have any more eggs left and are working with the remainder of our stock--I spoke with [my superior] and she said that there isn't a definite decision to close the program yet.
2. Will the Willow Beach National Hatchery go the way of the Lake Mead Hatchery?
-- Lake Mead hatchery was a different beast than what we're seeing here at the Willow Beach Hatchery. What happened at Lake Mead was due to more ecological factors than economic or budgetary ones, which is what is happening with us.
3. If the program is ended, will razorback sucker and bonytail still be reared?
--Yes, these species are part of a 50 year program called the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (http://www.lcrmscp.gov/index.html). The trout rearing program is funded separately by the Fish and Wildlife Department.
4. To be clear, what is the most important reason/reasons that trout are stocked?
--The trout are stocked strictly for game, there is no immediate ecological advantage to stocking the trout...this is one reason why the program is on the chopping block, because it is seen by the regional director of Fish and Wildlife as one of the non-essential items in the budget that can be cut. Willow Beach will really suffer without a trout program since a large number of visitors come for trout and fishing. I'm sure we'll still have people coming to boat and kayak, but a good portion of visitors just won't be here, or spending money for trout and Colorado River stamps.
5. You say the final "word" isn't in yet about the program closure--what or who makes a final decision? Where would pressure be best applied by concerned fishermen and supporters of Willow Beach?
--Stewart Jacks is the Assistant Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services. He oversees the budget for region 2 (this includes several states, Willow Beach falls into Region 2), and is a major decider of what is essential or non-essential to the budget--he would decide on what will be cut. Remember, all matters concerning the budget comes from Washington first, and then to the Regional Director to be itemized. He would be most helpful in discussing options and solutions.
Ending our conversation, Olson gave me the e-mail address to contact Stewart Jacks (Who is an avid fisherman by the way, the first picture I found is of him holding a mighty hog of a bass!), who he said would be very instrumental in helping build a case for the Willow Beach trout program. He asked that I contact him and ask the same questions, as well as send a copy of our conversation back to him (Mark Olson).
At the moment, I'm trying to build a good story that a local news or radio station will want to pick up. One sticking point that I think would resonate with locals is the fact that the hatchery has been stocking trout for more than 40 years (Since 1959!), and has been a long-lasting location for locals to retreat to. If you have any contacts, information, or stories that you think would be helpful, e-mail me so I can gather this stuff together rulonhardy@aol.com. The more people that are involved and taking this personally, the more efficient we can be in making sure we have a good stake in making lasting decisions about the quality of our local waters. We aren't victims of "the way things are", we're all deciders of how things will happen to us as fisherman and outdoorsman as a whole. Spread the news about this, and think of solutions or plans of action to take so we can keep the trout program in place. How many other hatchery programs have been halted? If they think the Willow Beach trout program is non-essential to the budget, imagine what else will be non-essential in the future.
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