Comments Show Support For Increased Production At Fort Peck Hatchery

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials said today that comments on two funding options show strong support for allowing the Fort Peck Multi-Species Fish Hatchery to raise and stock more fish.

The hatchery is located southeast of Glasgow on the banks of the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam on about 100 acres leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that designed and built the facility.

Recently FWP officials, local advisory groups, legislators, angling clubs and others worked to establish two different funding options that could boost the hatchery’s budget and production potential.   The options included paying an additional $3 for a warm water stamp to continue to run the hatchery at today’s levels; or paying an additional $1-2 for a general fishing license and allow the hatchery to expand production to include additional fish while maintaining its focus on maximum walleye production.

Between March 12 and April 30, FWP received about 150 comments from individuals and organizations. Commenters supported adding $1-2 for a general fishing license by more than a 15-to-1 margin over the $3 warm-water stamp increase option. FWP also received a few alternative-funding suggestions, including a petition seeking to raise nonresident fees. The two options presented apply to resident and nonresident anglers.  

  In 1999, the Montana Legislature authorized the sale of a $5 warm water stamp to fund Fort Peck Hatchery operations. The stamp, required of anglers who pursue warm water fish like walleye and bass in certain Montana waters, is the only source of income allowed to run the hatchery’s daily operations. Warm water stamp sales bring in about $250,000 a year, but only cover about half of the hatchery’s annual operations and maintenance costs. Consequently, the hatchery is run below its production potential with the exception of walleye production, which is maximized. When it created the warm-water stamp, the Montana Legislature also limited the type of fish that could be raised at the hatchery to certain warm water fish and Chinook salmon.  

FWP officials said that any decision to allow the Fort Peck Multi-Species Fish Hatchery to raise and stock more fish will have to be made by the Montana Legislature.