Construction Continues On Hatchery (Posted Tuesday, September 14, 2004 09:31 PM)

Construction continues on the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery. The $20 million dollar project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2005. The first warm water fish to be produced at the hatchery should be ready to go in early 2006. The project is overseen by the United States Army Corps of Engineers with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to manage the facility once it is completed.

Burns Announces Additional Hatchery Funding (Posted Thursday, January 22, 2004 01:34 PM)

U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced today that an additional $1 million for Fort Peck Fish Hatchery was included in the omnibus appropriations bill for FY04, bringing the total funding to $8 million for FY04. This funding will go towards the completion of the warm water fish hatchery at Fort Peck. Burns, a senior member of the powerful appropriations committee, sponsored the original legislation that authorized the hatchery, and has shepherded the funding for the project over the last several fiscal years.

“ This is a project that has been in the works for years now, and this additional funding in the omnibus bill will really go a long way in getting a few steps closer to completion,” said Burns. “This project never would have happened without the support and dedication of the communities around Fort Peck reservoir who wanted a warm water hatchery. Working with them, we were able to take that idea and turn it into a reality, and I’m thrilled to see it nearing completion.”

The hatchery dream began its reality in 2000, with a feasibility study funded through money raised by the Fort Peck Hatchery association and matching dollars from a Burns appropriation. That same spring, Burns introduced the “Fort Peck Fish Hatchery Authorization Act of 2000”. Senator Bob Smith (R-NH), now retired, committed to including it in that year’s Water Resource Development Act. Once passed and signed into law by then President Clinton, Burns set to getting funds appropriated for the project. The funds included for FY04 brings the total funds appropriated to nearly $16,000,000 for the project’s duration. Hatchery construction is underway, with completion planned for 2005.

This omnibus appropriations bill has passed through both the House and the Senate and will now be signed into law by President Bush...

Hatchery Timeline Released (Posted Tuesday, April 15, 2003 10:14 AM)

About 30 people attended the informational meeting on the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery last Friday.

More concerns were voiced over what parts of the project may be dropped if the project ends up over budget.

Also, there has been quite a bit of interest in bidding from both contractors and sub-contractors. The bid opening should occur late this month or in early May. According to the hatchery project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that process then usually takes about 3 weeks.

Ted Strekfuss wouldn’t give any specific dates, but did come up with a general timeline for the hatchery construction. He said that the contractor could probably be in the field in August, doing mostly dirt work and utility relocation.

The majority of the work would occur in 2004, with completion of the project somewhere around mid-June 2005.

Public Meeting To Be Held On Hatchery: Community To Hear From Planners, Managers (Posted Monday, April 7, 2003 05:34 PM)

Representative interests in the construction and management of the Fort Peck Multi-Species Hatchery will hold a public meeting on Friday, April 11, 2003 at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Recent questions and concerns raised about the planned construction have resulted in several meetings between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and members of Walleyes Unlimited and Citizens for a Fort Peck Fish Hatchery. In the interest of answering any remaining questions within the community, representatives of each of these groups will give a statement regarding the status of the project followed by a question and answer session. Local officials and representatives of the Montana congressional delegation will also attend the meeting.

For further information please contact Pam Tierney-Crisafulli in Senator Conrad Burns' office at 1-800-344-1513 or (406) 365-2391. You may also call the Glasgow office of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks at 228-3700.

Baucus Says Public Must Be Consulted On Hatchery Plans (Posted Saturday, March 15, 2003 09:19 AM)

Montana Senator Max Baucus told a high-level official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the public must be consulted in the design and building of the new warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake.

In a March 14 letter to Col. Kurt Ubbelohde, District Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based in Omaha, Neb., Baucus said a public meeting must be held in Glasgow immediately with all stakeholders and public officials.

Baucus said he concerned over reports hatchery organizers and members of the public haven't been afforded the opportunity to provide official comment on the hatchery design plans.

The group "Citizens for a Fort Peck Fish Hatchery" and Walleyes Unlimited chapters across Montana have been the driving force behind the project, raising $1 million and lobbying the Montana Legislature to authorize the building of the warm-water hatchery. Montana's congressional delegation has secured $7.5 million in federal money to start construction of the $20 million project.

Local citizens are concerned that fish rearing capacity has been reduced in the design of the hatchery and that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, who designed the hatchery, have used federal money to build an extravagant hatchery building instead of using the federal money to raise fish.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials have said that any change in the design of the hatchery could result in the project being pushed back one year and the design changes could cost as much as $500,000.

The construction contract is expected to be let out for bid in early April.

Not Many Answers At Hatchery Public Meeting (Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2003 04:25 PM)

Many questions were asked and not many answers were given at a public meeting Monday regarding the design of the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery.

Over forty citizens attended the afternoon meeting to get answers on the design of the hatchery. Two representatives from the Region Six Office of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks were on hand to take questions from the citizens. The meeting was supposed to be attended by those responsible for the design of the hatchery but they backed out of the meeting on Friday for various reasons.

People attending the meeting questioned the Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials on several fronts including why there hasn't been any public input on the design of the hatchery.

Andrew McKean of the FWP told the group he's suggesting future meetings between the department and the public regarding the construction of the hatchery. But Myron Gartner, representing Citizens for a Fort Peck Hatchery, said it's a little late for public participation when the design of the hatchery is virtually completed. Gartner said the public should of been involved from the beginning of the process.

Gartner also expressed concern that the current design of the hatchery doesn't include pond liners for 9 of the two-acre ponds planned for the hatchery. He told the crowd that FWP is optioning out the liners to save an estimated $900,000. Other members of the crowd said that the current location of the hatchery is primarily sand based and all the ponds should have liners.

Questions were asked why the hatchery is building is relatively extravagant and none of the amenities of the building have been taken out to save money. The hatchery building includes nine offices, nine showers and 2 bathtubs plus a huge meeting room with all glass and rock exterior. The hatchery building also includes crew quarters for FWP personnel who will be working at the hatchery.

The building has offices and support facilities for the hatchery manager and assistant manager. Other accommodations are planned for the FWP Fort Peck Lake fisheries management staff, currently charged rent to work out of a building owned by the Army Corps of Engineers. These employees would be moved to the hatchery building and would not be charged rent.

FWP estimates that the annual operating budget for the hatchery would be an estimated $315,000. State law requires that funding for operations and maintenance of the hatchery come from the revenue collected through sales of the Warm Water Fish Stamp. Current annual income form the sales of the stamp is around $220,000 so additional funding sources will need to be identified.

FWP did tell the audience at the meeting that no trout will be produced at the hatchery for stocking purposes. They also said that fewer rearing ponds will be built but each pond will be larger in size so the total fish-rearing capacity will be greater than initial plans indicated.

FWP personnel told the audience on hand that they would forward all of the concerns to the authorities in Helena to have them answered. No other public meeting has been set by FWP and according to Jim Satterfield, Region Six Supervisor, the contract for the hatchery will be bid out soon. Satterfield did tell the group that it his understanding that if the design is changed there could be a $500,000 to $600,000 penalty to make those changes.

Hatchery Supporters Concerned About Plans (Posted Wednesday, March 5, 2003 9:01 PM)
Supporters of the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery are concerned that the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are designing the hatchery to produce cold water fish such as trout and salmon.

Montana Fish and Game officials are designing the $20 million dollar hatchery and local supporters of the hatchery have just now seen the design plans and they are unhappy and have several questions for Fish and Game officials.

Supporters are concerned about the huge hatchery building that is being proposed. The design calls for 9 offices with workstations, 9 showers, 2 bathtubs, 6 toilets, crew quarters with 4 beds plus washing machines and clothes dryers and all kinds of cooking amenities.

The hatchery building also includes a huge meeting room with all glass and rock exterior.

The hatchery was originally  planned to employ up to three full-time employees but it appears the Fish and Game might have other plans for the building.

Myron Gartner and Chuck Lawson of the Citizens for a Fort Peck Warm-Water Fish Hatchery also are wondering if the hatchery is being built for cold water fish such as trout and salmon.

The original design was supposed to include raceways to help raise salmon but the designers have increased the amount of salmon raceways to nine. Myron Gartner told Kltz/Klan that the Fort Peck Lake Management Plan was to raise approximately 250,000 Chinook Salmon for stocking in Fort Peck. Gartner explained that nine raceways is enough to raise 900,000 salmon plus another 900,000 trout since salmon are spawned in the fall and trout in the spring.

The original intent of the legislation creating the Fort Peck Warm-Water Fish Hatchery was to work with warm water fish and also include a portion for salmon and the pallid sturgeon. Trout were never an option for this hatchery.

Gartner explained that the warm water fisherman are paying for this hatchery with the $5 stamp and they shouldn't be responsible for paying for trout to come out of the hatchery.

Gartner and Lawson are also concerned about a reduction in the amount of rearing ponds that would be used to produce walleye. There were originally supposed to be 48 one-acre warm-water rearing ponds. Fish and Game officials at one time reduced those ponds by 40 percent because they were over budget on the hatchery. Myron Gartner told Kltz/Klan that he's at the point where he just doesn't trust Fish and Game personnel on the design of the hatchery.

Local citizens are concerned that warm-water fish capacity has been reduced at the hatchery yet none of the perks in the hatchery building have been reduced and the capacity for raising cold water fish has been increased.

Myron Gartner and Chuck Lawson also wonder why the public hasn't had any input on the design process for the hatchery. They both told Kltz/Klan that the fisherman across Montana springboarded the idea yet the project design has been a closely guarded secret by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Senator Conrad Burns has initiated a meeting on Monday, March 10th at the Cottonwood Inn. The meeting will be attended by Fish and Game officials, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials along with representatives of Montana's Congressional delegation. Supporters of the hatchery hope this meeting will bring out the official design of the hatchery so that local hatchery supporters can see what is being planned.

Hundreds Turn Out For Hatchery Groundbreaking (Sat, 7/6/02)

Over 400 people showed up at the Dredge Cuts on Saturday, for the official groundbreaking for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Walleyes Unlimited and many others attended the ceremony. Senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns and Representative Denny Rehberg spoke as did State Senator Sam Kitzenberg.

Many people also attended a celebration picnic on Saturday night at Kiwanis Park. (Please click on the small images for a larger view.)

The Corps of Engineers set up the ceremony platform.		Boomer interviews Chuck Lawson.
Roy Sneider was the Master of Ceremonies.	Chuck Lawson speaks.	Over 400 people showed up for the event.
Senator Max Baucus	Senator Conrad Burns	Representative Denny Rehberg
Senator Sam Kitzenberg		Walleyes Unlimited President, Diane Brandt
Chuck Lawson & Myron Gartner receive silver shovels.		Ground breaking #1
Ground is broken!	Hatchery Map #1	Hatchery Map #2
Plenty of folks enjoyed the picnic later, too.		Reliving the history of getting the hatchery idea off the ground.

Hatchery Groundbreaking Details Released (Tue, May 14, 2002)

The ground breaking for the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery is set for July 6th at Fort Peck. Montana's Congressional delegation is set to be on hand for the ground breaking and a picnic will follow the event.Tickets are now available for the picnic at a cost of $5.

The picnic will be held at Kiwanis Park in Fort Peck.Tickets may be purchased at D&G, First Community Bank, Valley Bank and Mon-Dak Marine.The ground breaking will start at 2pm with the picnic set to begin at 5pm.

KLTZ will provide extra coverage of the event throughout the day Saturday; Mark Ward will broadcast his statewide radio show Montana Outdoors from the groundbreaking and will also air an extra 2 hours of his show from the site.

Senator Max Baucus, Senator Conrad Burns, & Representative Denny Rehberg are all expected to attend.

Clinton Signs Water Resources Bill, Including Hatchery and Fort Peck Cabin Ownership (12/11)

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Monday said President Clinton signed a bill that will create a new warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck lake, swap a series of cabin sites at Fort Peck Lake for lands important to hunting and fishing, and help clean up polluted streams in Montana.

"We've been working for long time to get this bill signed into law because it's so important to our hunting and fishing heritage and jobs in our state, Baucus said. "Now that the ink from the President's signature is dry, we can get moving on these projects that will improve our quality of life and boost our economy."
Baucus steered the provisions through the Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The lead Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Baucus helped write the bill that approves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects across the country.

Baucus noted that Fort Peck fish hatchery and cabin sites bills were not included as part of the original House-passed version of WRDA on October 19. As a member of the Senate-House negotiating committee charged with resolving differences between the two versions, Baucus inserted in the final version of the measure the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery and cabin sites provisions, as well as $5 million to help clean up rivers polluted with mining waste. Baucus said the agreement that he helped broker combined those projects with the hugely popular restoration of the Florida Everglades, providing the momentum to move the bill through the Senate and House. Included in the Water Resources Development Act that passed the Senate and the House are the following provisions for Montana:
Fort Peck Fish Hatchery The $20-million Fort Peck Fish Hatchery will support native fish recovery and warm-water fish such as walleye and small-mouth bass, as well as other species that have been hurt by heavy fishing pressure in recent years. The hatchery will be located on 100 acres of federal land south of the Dredge Cuts area in Fort Peck and will be staffed by two to three employees, Baucus said.

"The fish hatchery will be a tremendous shot in the arm for the economies of the folks in Sidney, Malta, Lewistown, Billings and of course, Glasgow, Baucus said. "Fort Peck Lake is one of the greatest resources that exists in our state. It is an increasingly important center for recreation and a big part of the local economies."

Baucus said the hatchery proposal has the support of local community leaders, economic development groups, and sportsmen associations, and will be a partnership between the Army Corp of Engineers and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

In July, Baucus toured Fort Peck Lake with the top official for the Army Corp of Engineers -- Joseph Westphal to garner his support for the fish hatchery and the Fort Peck Cabin Site bill.

"People from around the world come to Fort Peck for our annual walleye tournaments," Baucus said. "Hundreds of boats, and probably a thousand or more anglers participate in these events. I was at the Governor's Cup tournament this summer and it is truly a sight to behold. The local community puts its heart and soul into the tournaments. That's why this bill is so important.

Fort Peck Cabin Sites Under the cabin site bill, families that lease the 392 cabin sites at Fort Peck Lake will be given an option to purchase their cabin site at fair-market value. The proceeds from these purchases will then be placed in the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust and be available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase land at the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge with higher values to the public. The cabin sites are currently owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This bill is a common sense win-win solution," Baucus said. "We let cabin owners buy their cabin sites, and then use the money to purchase wildlife habitat for the refuge. This will reduce the cost to the government of managing these cabin sites, and will provide us with new hunting and fishing opportunities in northeastern Montana."

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust was established by Baucus as part of similar legislation at Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Under that bill, passed in 1998, cabin owners at Canyon Ferry were given an option to purchase the 265 cabin sites at that U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reservoir. Proceeds from the Canyon Ferry bill are being deposited in the trust for use across Montana to improve access to public lands and for land important for hunting and fishing.

"This is a model that worked well at Canyon Ferry," Baucus said. "The proceeds from these transactions can create new hunting, fishing and recreational opportunities for all Montanans on new public lands acquired under these bills."

The Fort Peck Cabin Site bill is estimated to generate between $5 and $8 million in revenue for purchasing land important for hunting and fishing. When fully implemented, the Canyon Ferry bill is expected to generate between $12 and $18 million to improve access to public lands and to benefit fish and wildlife.

Stream Restoration from Mine tailings Baucus established a new $5-million program under which the Army Corps of Engineers will assist in cleaning up three Montana rivers polluted by hard-rock mine tailings near Cooke City, Marysville, and Helena. The streams have been contaminated with acidic waste and precious metals, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium by defunct mining operations in those areas. The corps will use these funds to help clean up mine waste on the following Montana streams: Soda Butte Creek, near Cooke City, flows into Yellowstone National Park. Silver Creek, near Marysville, is contaminated with mercury. Elkhorn Mountains near Helena. This clean-up includes a number of streams near historic mine sites in the Elkhorns.

HATCHERY STAMPS SELLING WELL (11/16)
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks as of September 30th has sold 47,388 warm water fishing stamps. The proceeds from the sale of these stamps will be used for the operation and maintenance of the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery.

According to Chuck Lawson, the net money raised by the sale of the stamps is $214,565 and this money can only be used for the hatchery. In related news...the federal authorization for the hatchery still is unsigned by President Clinton but he is expected to sign the legislation soon.

HATCHERY PASSES COMMITTEE (10/25)

U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced on Friday that he has negotiated an agreement that will ensure final passage of a bill that will create a new warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake, swap a series of cabin sites at Fort Peck for lands important for hunting and fishing, and help cleanup polluted streams in Montana. They provisions had been included in the original Water Resources Development Act, but were dropped last week. President Clinton has indicated he will sign the bill.

The $20 million Fort Peck Fish Hatchery will support native fish recover and warm-water fish such as walleye and small-mouth bass, as well as other species that have been hit by heavy fishing pressure in recent years. The hatchery will be located on 100 acres of federal land south of the Dredge Cuts area near Fort Peck and will be staffed by 2 to 3 employees.

"The fish hatchery will be a tremendous shot in the arm for the economies of the folks in Sidney, Malta, Lewistown, Billings, and of course, Glasgow, all across Montana," said Baucus after concluding the negotiations. "Fort Peck Lake is one of the greatest resources that exists in our state. It is an increasingly important center for recreation and a big part of the local economies."

Baucus said the hatchery proposal has the support of local community leaders, economic development groups and sportsman associations, and will be a partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Under the cabin site bill, families that lease the 392 cabin sites at Fort Peck Lake would be given an option to purchase their cabin site at a fair market value. The proceeds from these purchases would then be placed in the Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust and be available to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase land at the Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge with higher values to the public. The cabin sites are currently owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This bill is a common sense win-win solution. We let cabin owners buy their cabin sites, and then use the money to purchase wildlife habitat for the refuge," said Baucus. "This will reduce the cost to the government of managing these cabin sites, and will provide us with new hunting and fishing opportunities in northeast Montana."

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust was established by Baucus as part of similar legislation at Canyon Ferry Reservoir. Under that bill, passed in 1998, cabin owners at Canyon Ferry were given an option to purchase the 265 cabin sites at that Bureau of Reclamation reservoir. Proceeds from the Canyon Ferry bill are being deposited in the Trust for use across Montana to improve access to public lands and for land important for hunting and fishing.

The Fort Peck Cabin Site bill is estimated to generate between $5 and $8 million in revenue for purchasing land important for hunting and fishing. When fully implemented, the Canyon Ferry bill is expected to generate between $12 and $18 million to improve access to public lands and to benefit fish and wildlife.

Now that the committee has reached agreement on the Water Resources Development Act, the bill will be presented to the House and the Senate for its expected final passage; from there the bill will be sent to the President.

"Nothing is certain until the ink dries from the President's signature," said Baucus, "but this agreement makes it highly likely these bills will become law within a week."

HATCHERY UPDATE (10/22)
(Helena-AP) -- A U-S Senate bill no longer has 20 million dollars, for construction of a fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake. The House of Representatives removed the money Thursday, then passed the bill.

It now goes to a committee that will work to produce a version acceptable to both the House and Senate.

Representative Rick Hill says he voted against removing the hatchery money.

The Montana Republican says he's been assured there will be efforts to restore the funding, in the final bill.
(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

HATCHERY FAILS TO PASS HOUSE UNDER WATER RESOURCES BILL (10/19)

(corrects earlier story)
(Helena-AP) -- Representative Rick Hill says he voted against the House version of the water resources bill today because it did not include the 20 (m) million dollars for a proposed warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck.

The Senate version contained that provision.

Hill's vote was in vain, though, because the measure passed by the lopsided margin of 394-to-14.

Hill says there are many beneficial aspects of the bill but he was upset about the fishery measure being knocked out and is trying to assure it gets put back in.

The water bill now moves to a conference committee between the House and the Senate to work out differences in the legislation. (Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR HATCHERY BILL (10/12)
Time is running out in Washington D.C. on the legislation that includes the authorization for the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery and legislation that would allow cabin owners to purchase the land where the cabins are located instead of leasing the land around Fort Peck Lake.

According to a spokesman for Senator Max Baucus the Water Resources Development Act has passed the Senate and is now awaiting action by the House of Representatives. But Congress is expected to complete their work on Saturday and time is running out on this particular legislation.Senator Baucus remains optimistic that the legislation will be passed and hopes to help steer the bill through the House of Representatives and have it signed by President Clinton. Currently House and Senate negotiators are working on the budget and anything can happen in the closing days of a Congressional session

BURNS SAYS COMMITMENT SECURED ON HATCHERY (6/27)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Montana Senator Conrad Burns today secured a commitment from a key committee chairman that Burns’ Fort Peck hatchery bill will be included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which the committee will vote on tomorrow. After months of discussion, Senator Bob Smith (R-N.H.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, promised Burns that he will include the hatchery bill in WRDA, which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout the nation.

“The Water Resources Development Act will be moving through Congress shortly, and Senator Smith’s commitment means that my Fort Peck hatchery bill will move with it,” Burns said. “This project could not have made it this far without all of the hard work that local folks have put into it. It’s exciting to see people at the local, state and federal levels all working together for a common goal. Not only are we getting very close to achieving that goal, but we’re getting very close to making Montana’s economy and waters healthier.”

Burns’ bill authorizes $20 million for the construction of a warm-water, multi-species hatchery using the findings from an Army Corps of Engineers’ feasibility study. Burns earlier spearheaded an effort to get the Army Corps of Engineers to devote $125,000 for the study. In addition, private Montana companies and other entities offered $125,000 in matching funds for the study.

The state has only one other warm-water fish hatchery, which is located in Miles City. That hatchery is already running at maximum capacity. Burns said he hopes that the Fort Peck hatchery will contribute to increased recreation in eastern Montana and improve the strength of fish populations in Montana’s rivers and lakes.
The project began a year and a half ago when a group of Montanans began pushing the idea. Working with Walleyes Unlimited of Montana and other groups, Citizens for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery has successfully brought the project closer and closer to being a reality.

The Montana Legislature also threw its support behind the hatchery, passing a bill that creates a hatchery stamp that will be sold along with Montana fishing licenses. Proceeds from the stamp will be used for operation and maintenance of the project.

HATCHERY STAMPS SELLING FAST (6/22)
State Representative Sam Kitzenberg has good news regarding the sale of the warm water fish stamps that are being used to benefit the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery.

Kitzenberg told Kltz/Mix 93 news that as of April 30th a total of 20,500 stamps had been sold to Montana fishermen and that has raised approximately $93,000 to be used for the development and operation of the Fort Peck Hatchery.
Kitzenberg also said that according to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks there are 40,000 to 60,000 stamps that are in the possession of licensed dealers. Kitzenberg said if you take even the lowest possible number it's likely the stamp has raised over $200,000.

There have been some problems though in getting the stamp out to the general public. Kitzenberg mentioned one instance in Billings where a sporting goods store ran out of the stamps and then posted a notice that a person buying a fishing license need not buy the stamp because no one was going to be enforcing the law. Kitzenberg was in contact with the Governors office this week and the problem has now been taken care of.

Money that is raised from the stamp will be used for the operation of the warm water hatchery once it is completed. There is legislation pending in Congress that would authorize and fund the hatchery.

HATCHERY HEARING SUMMARY (5/1)
The Cottonwood Inn was the site Saturday for a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water. The purpose of the hearing was to take comments on a Senate bill authorizing federal funds for the construction of a multi-species, warm water fish hatchery at Fort Peck.

Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho chaired the hearing which featured comments from supporters of the fish hatchery. Kltz/Mix 93 news spoke with Senator Crapo before the hearing and he said that he feels the bill has a good chance of being passed by the United States Congress. He mentioned that the bill has been justified in Congress and will pass Congress either as a stand alone bill or as part of the larger Water Resources Development Act legislation.

Crapo also mentioned that their is a very tight timetable in Congress this year because it's an election year. He said that the hatchery bill could move through Congress either in September or October of this year.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine the cost of the hatchery. Senator Conrad Burns has introduced legislation that would authorize $10 million to fund the construction of the hatchery.

The state of Montana currently has only one other warm water hatchery, which is located in Miles City. That hatchery is already running at maximum capacity.

BURNS ANNOUNCES SUBCOMMITEE FIELD HEARING IN GLASGOW APRIL 29TH (4/18)
Montana Senator Conrad Burns Tuesday announced that a Senate subcommittee will hold a field hearing in Glasgow on his bill authorizing federal funds for the construction of a multispecies, warm-water fish hatchery on the Fort Peck Reservoir.

The hearing will take place on Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Cottonwood Inn.

Burns said Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Drinking Water, will chair the hearing.

"This fish hatchery means economic development and healthy rivers and lakes for Montana," Burns said. "I'm happy that we can bring a little bit of the Senate to Glasgow for the day, and I look forward to moving this hatchery bill through the Senate as quickly as possible."

Burns' bill authorizes $10 million for the construction of the hatchery using findings from an Army Corps of Engineers' feasibility study.

Burns earlier spearheaded an effort to get the Army Corps of Engineers to devote $125,000 for the study. In addition, private Montana companies and other entities offered $125,000 in matching funds for the study.

The state has only one other warm-water fish hatchery, which is located in Miles City. That hatchery is already running at maximum capacity. Burns said he hopes that the Fort Peck hatchery will contribute to increased recreation in eastern Montana and improve the strength of fish populations in Montana's rivers and lakes.

The project began a year and a half ago when a group of Montanans began pushing the idea. Working with Walleyes Unlimited of Montana and other groups, Citizens for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery has successfully brought the project closer and closer to being a reality.

The Montana Legislature also threw its support behind the hatchery, passing a bill that creates a hatchery stamp that will be sold along with Montana fishing licenses. Proceeds from the stamp will be used for operation and maintenance of the project.

The hearing will help clear the way for further Senate action on the bill.

Burns has worked with Senator Bob Smith (R-N.H.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to include the hatchery bill in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout the nation. Senators Crapo and Burns will be available to press before the hearing from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. also at the Cottonwood Inn.

BAUCUS TO INCLUDE HATCHERY IN WATER DEVELOPMENT ACT (3/20)
U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced this week that he will include the Fort Peck Warm Water Fish Hatchery proposal in the Water Resources Development Act, the bill that approves U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects across the country.

Baucus said the bill is highly likely to pass this year.

“I’m certain this is the vehicle we need to get federal matching dollars for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery,” Baucus said. “The bill’s chances of passing this year are very encouraging. I’m going to do my best to make it happen because this is good for recreation and jobs in the region.”

The project will establish a hatchery for native fish recovery for warm-water fish such as walleye and small-mouth bass, as well as other species that have been hit by heavy fishing pressure in recent years. The hatchery will be located on 100 acres of federal land south of the Dredge Cuts in Fort Peck and will be staffed by two to three employees, Baucus said.

In 1997, Baucus was successful in including the Fort Peck Interpretive Center in the federal highway funding bill that passed through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, of which Baucus is the top Democrat.

“I hope to authorize the fish hatchery in the same way that we were able to authorize the Fort Peck Interpretive Center,” Baucus said. “The water resources bill is moving this year. We should move quickly to include the Fort Peck Hatchery in that bill.”

Baucus said the hatchery proposal has the support of local community leaders, economic development groups and sportsmen associations, and will be a partnership between the Army Corps of Engineers and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

“Montanans have always had a proud hunting and fishing tradition,” Baucus said. “This project not only adds to our heritage, but also helps boost our economy.”

HATCHERY LEGISLATION AWAITING HEARING (3/8)

(Fort Peck-AP) -- Backers of a warm-water fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake are facing their most difficult hurdle: persuading Congress to authorize ten (m) million dollars for the project. Montana's two senators are backing an appropriation bill, that awaits a hearing in a Senate subcommittee. The measure would pay for at least 75 percent of the state-run hatchery. Results of a detailed cost and design study are expected to be released within two weeks, by the U-S Army Corps of Engineers.

Proponents tout the benefits a hatchery would bring to the region: increased recreation in northeastern Montana, and improved fish populations. Organizers hope to break ground on the hatchery this fall.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

HATCHERY STAMPS ON SALE (3/3)
The $5 warm water fishing stamp, to benefit the Fort Peck warm water fish hatchery, went on sale Wednesday, March 1st, at licensed dealers for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

The $5 stamp was authorized by the last Montana Legislature to pay for the maintenance and operation of the Fort peck fish hatchery. All monies raised by this stamp will go exclusively to the hatchery project. The stamp must be purchased if you are planning to fish certain Montana warm water fisheries. Supporters of the fish hatchery believe that this is a great way to help support the fish hatchery. Fishermen can purchase up to 9 stamps every year.

Montana Senator Conrad Burns today introduced a bill authorizing $10 million in federal funds for the construction of a multi-species, warm-water fish hatchery on the Fort Peck Reservoir.

Burns' bill authorizes construction of the hatchery using the findings from an Army Corps of Engineers' feasibility study. Burns earlier spearheaded an effort to get the Army Corps of Engineers to devote $125,000 for the study. In addition, private Montana companies and other entities offered $125,000 in matching funds for the study.

"This hatchery is important to the health of Montana's rivers, and it also has potential to make eastern Montana the best place to fish in the region," Burns said. "Good fishing translates to more tourism and high-paying jobs. I look forward to working with the rest of Montana's congressional delegation to see the hatchery through to its completion."

The state has only one other warm-water fish hatchery, which is located in Miles City. That hatchery is already running at maximum capacity. Burns said he hopes that the Fort Peck hatchery will contribute to increased recreation in eastern Montana and improve the strength of fish populations in Montana's rivers and lakes. The project began a year and a half ago when a group of Montanans began pushing the idea. Working with Walleyes Unlimited of Montana and other groups, Citizens for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery has successfully brought the hatchery closer and closer to being a reality.

"This hatchery is going to supply warm-water fish throughout the state," said Chuck Lawson of Citizens for the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery. "We see growing fishing pressure on our waters in Montana, and we need to keep pace."

The Montana Legislature also threw its support behind the hatchery, passing a bill that creates a hatchery stamp that will be sold along with Montana fishing licenses. Proceeds from the stamp will be used for operation and maintenance of the hatchery.
Debbie Brey, program manager for the Army Corps of Engineers Planning Assistance to the States Program, said that the total cost of the hatchery is still unknown, but should be clear by the end of March, when the Army Corps of Engineers completes its inquiry into the project. Current estimates hold that the hatchery will need about $10 million, but the bill may change when the Army Corps of Engineers releases its final cost estimate.

PUBLIC MEETING ON HATCHERY (1/20/00)
The United States Army Corps of Engineers hosted a public meeting Wednesday evening at the Cottonwood Inn regarding the Fort Peck multi-species warm-water fish hatchery. The purpose of the meeting was to take public comment on any environmental problems that could arise when the hatchery is built. A large crowd of hatchery supporters attended the meeting and no real comments were voiced about environmental problems associated with the hatchery.

The meeting detailed the corps of engineers involvement in the project which includes completing an environmental impact analysis and cost estimate, a conceptual design report and the effects of federal action of leasing land for the hatchery to be built on. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is contracting with the Corp of Engineers to complete the planning study, which will cost $250,000. Also at the meeting was Gary Bertellotti with the Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks and he answered several questions about the hatchery. He told the audience that late March or early April should complete the conceptual design report and cost study. The estimated cost will then be forwarded onto the Montana congressional delegation that will then draft legislation to appropriate federal money to construct the hatchery. Bertellotti also said that it could be as late as 2006 before the hatchery is operational. He told the group that the federal money would not be available until next year and then expect a year or a year and a half for planning and pre-construction and the actual construction of the hatchery could take up to two years.

The actual design of the hatchery was also discussed at the meeting. The hatchery will be located south of the dredge cuts area in Fort Peck on approximately 100 acres of federal land that would be leased to the state. The preliminary design has one large building located on the site that will include the hatchery equipment, incubator equipment and the maintenance equipment for the hatchery. This building is expected to be 180 feet by 180 feet in size. The hatchery will also include and estimated 80 rearing ponds ranging in size from 1 1/2 acres, 1 acre and 1/2 an acre in size. It also appears that the designers at this moment are leaning towards water from the dredge cuts as a water source for the hatchery. Plans could also include wells being drilled to provide an alternative water source. Gary Bertelloti also mentioned that it appears there will be three full time employees to operate the hatchery. Two residences will also be built for the workers and the preliminary plan is to have the houses built across the highway from the hatchery.

As far as the fish that will be coming from the hatchery, walleye will be the first concern and large and small mouth bass will be given priority along with Chinook salmon. Bertellotti said that once operational, the Fort Peck Hatchery would supply 25 percent more fish than the state's other warm water hatchery located in Miles City. It was emphasized that not all of the production from the Fort Peck Hatchery will be used for Fort Peck Reservoir but a majority will end up at Fort Peck.
Of course, all this is preliminary and the federal funds have yet to be appropriated for the construction of the hatchery, but the future does seem to be bright for the Fort Peck Warm-Water Fish Hatchery. Also starting in March the $5 warm-water fish stamp will go on sale across the state of Montana. The money raised from that stamp will go directly into a fund that will be used to construct and operate the Fort Peck Hatchery.

HATCHERY MEETING SET FOR JANUARY 19
Planning has started on the multi-species fish hatchery to be located at Fort Peck. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha has begun preparing a conceptual design, environmental impact analysis, and cost estimate for the hatchery. As a part of the environmental impact analysis, the Corps will be conducting public involvement activities.

This process will begin with a public meeting scheduled for January 19th at the Cottonwood Inn. The meeting will begin at 5pm and will last approximately 2 hours, depending on public interest.

At the meeting, the Corps will introduce the basic requirements of the hatchery and record comments from the public. Due to the projects infancy, presentation will not focus on hatchery design. Rather the Corps' intent will be to solicit public opinion, determine if any environmental controversy exists, make information available, and determine the need for future public meetings. Information gathered at the meeting will be used in the preparation of an environmental assessment, and when appropriate, in the design of the hatchery.

The meeting will be held January 19th at 5pm at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow.

The proposed warm water fish hatchery at Fort Peck continues to become closer to a reality as the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks are close to signing an agreement that will have the Corps of Engineers complete a planning study for the hatchery. The study will cost $250,000, with the Corps of Engineers picking up half of that cost. They are now awaiting an agreement with the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks that will spell out that the plan that formulate will meet the obligations of what the department wants constructed at the hatchery. The other $125,000 that is needed for the study will come from an agreement between Two Rivers Growth Inc. and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The department is allowing Two Rivers to borrow money against the expected revenues from the warm water fish stamp to pay for half of the planning study.
According to Chuck Lawson, one of the main organizers of the hatchery project, several private entities have come together to loan the $125,000 for the planning study.
Last week representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks met last Tuesday in Glasgow for preliminary discussions on the plan for the hatchery. As soon as all the agreements are signed, the Corps will begin their planning study, which could take from 6 months to a year to complete. It is hoped though that the study will be finished as soon as soon as possible so the Montana Congressional delegation can begin the appropriation process to find federal money to fund the Fort Peck Warm Water Hatchery.

Citizens for a Multi Species Fish Hatchery at Fort Peck have started a drive to raise monies to be used for the design, construction and operation of the new hatchery to be located at Fort Peck. Supporters say the plan is to get the preliminary design done and then to move on to the construction phase as federal funding and funding from the Warm Wter Stamp and private funds become available.

The group says that their understanding is that the federal government will match every dollar donated at least once. If people would like their donations to be tax deductible they can make their donations to Two Rivers Growth Inc. Hatchery Fund. Two Rivers Growth Inc. is a Valley County based not for profit economic development group. The organization is a 501 c(3) tax-exempt organization.

If you have any questions, please call Tod Kasten at 406-228-4144 or the Glasgow Chamber/Two Rivers Growth at 228-2222.

Your help and support is greatly appreciated.

The proposed warm water fish hatchery at Fort Peck has run into another roadblock but this time in the halls of the nation's capitol in Washington D.C. According to supporters of the hatchery a federal appropriation authorizing money for a preliminary design for the hatchery has run into a wall in Congress.

United States Senator Conrad Burns was looking to authorize an estimated $250,000 for the study but he has told supporters of the hatchery that because of budget caps instituted by Congress it doesn't look good for the money for the hatchery.

It is very important that the fish hatchery receive federal funds because the state legislation authorizing the hatchery says that if no federal money is appropriated by June of 2001 the authorization for the hatchery ends.

For this reason, supporters of the hatchery are urging Montanans again to contact their representatives but this time on the federal level. Supporters are urged to call, fax or e-mail Senators Conrad Burns and Max Baucus along with Congressman Rick Hill and tell them that you support the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery and urge them to do so as well. We've provide all the information below. To e-mail each one, simply click on the e-mail link. We hope you'll take a few minutes to help support the fish hatchery at Fort Peck Lake. We will provide more updates as we receive them.

E-mail Max Baucus

Max Baucus Home Page

511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
202-224-2651 (D.C.)
202-228-3687 (Fax # in D.C.)
800-332-6106 (Billings)
406-657-6793 (Fax # in Billings)

E-mail Conrad Burns or Fill out his website form

Conrad Burns Home Page

Conrad Burns TV On The Web

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