VT Hatchery Closing Update

From: Lake Champlain International, Inc. [mailto:james@mychamplain.net]
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 1:42 PM
Subject: VT House Appropriations Proposed Hatchery Closing Update
Importance: High

Hello Conservationists and Lake Champlain Business Community,

Attached is the list of cuts proposed by the VT House Appropriations Committee, to include closing all Vermont fish hatcheries. We are told this is being done as a bargaining tool to garner support for general tax increases proposed by House leadership. We have not been able to substantiate this, but Representative Larson has been contacted to ascertain the committee’s position. We are awaiting his response.

A colleague in Washington, D.C. noted the following when learning of the situation: “You folks should alert the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This could well be a diversion of sport fish restoration funds because the hatchery program probably use these monies in variety of ways.”

We will keep you apprised of developments as they occur. In the interim, you may learn by contacting the representatives listed below at 1.800.322.5616.


Sincerely,

James Ehlers

All the best,
James Ehlers
Executive Director

Lake Champlain International, Inc. 501(c)(3) organization
Celebrating Family, Friends and Fishing

531 Main Street Colchester, VT 05446
james@mychamplain.net www.mychamplain.net
802.879.3466 Fax: 802.879.1746
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Fellow Conservationists and Members of the Lake Champlain Business Community,

An LCI Board Member reports the following:

From: Richard
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 3:04 PM
To: james@mychamplain.net
Subject: RE: VT House Appropriations Proposed Hatchery Closing Update

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James,

After having sent emails back and forth with Tom Wiggins [Director of VT Fish Culture Operations], it looks as though the expected loss to the state will be in excess of 5 to 15 times the cost to the state to keep the hatcheries running.



Dick

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Sincerely,

James Ehlers