Legislative Issues - Agenda Items

Fort Peck Funding Sent by Bob Gilbert

Director's meeting on Fort Peck Funding

On Monday, September 24th the Director of Fish, Wildlife, & Parks held the second meeting of the advisory committee he appointed to assist in finding a solution for long-term funding of the Fort Peck Hatchery. Eight committee members were in attendence along with twelve others. Four of these were Walleyes Unlimited members from 3 of our Chapters. Representatives from the offices of Senator Max Baucus and Jon Tester were also there as they were for the first meeting held in Fort Peck. FWP was represented by the Director, Jeff Hagener, Chris Hunter of the Fisheries Division, Bob Snyder, the State Hatcheries Administrator, the region 6 Fisheries Administrator,Bill Wiedenheft from Glasgow, and representatives from both the Fort Peck Hatchery and the Big Springs Hatchery.

As at the last meeting the Director allowed participation from all those attending. At some point is the process this will probably be involving only the committee members although the public is always welcome to attend.

The issue at hand was to attempt to narrow the 11 identified possible funding solutions from the first meeting to a smaller number which are reasonable and able to pass legislative muster. Any changes in the funding method and formula will require legislative changes is either the 2009 or the 2011 legislative sessions. Those surviving are #1; Continue with the Warmwater Stamp and attempt to share the Wallop-Breaux allocation and other matching federal funds, #2; Use Federal money for mitigation and/or Pallid Sturgeon money, #3; Raise the cost of the Warmwater Stamp from five dollars to ten dollars, #4; Drop the Warmwater Stamp and replace with general license dollars. Remove the restrictions on species raised. Should include an increase in both resident and non-resident license fees. (The Citizen Advisory Councils from Regions 2,4,5,6, and 7 favor this choice), #8; Use grant money, #9, Use General Fund money or other state money, and lastly a new one #12 which is a hybred version of #4, this would use general license money, may or may not continue the warmwater stamp, would require statutory language to assure the raising of warm water fish in the hatchery has absolute priority, and would require an appointed committee to advise FWP on the operation of the hatchery.

If anyone has comments or additional ideas please contact President Mike Newton or myself prior to the next meeting. If you attend one of these meetings please remember finger-pointing, sour-grapes, and complaining about how we got to where we are is not conducive to attaining a solution which will be in the best interest of the warm-water fisheries of the future, our Association members, and the rest of the warm-water fishing community.