Budget Catch for Hatcheries (S2)

New York’s fish hatcheries will receive $4 million in funding for major repairs after a proposal in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2014 state budget.  The money from the NYWorks program is by far the highest amount DEC has received for hatchery work in recent years and will be used to address several of what officials have called “critical needs.” Among the work expected to take place is repairs at the aging Caledonia fish hatchery in Livingston County, which is observing its 150th anniversary this year and has structural deficiencies at its main building as well as concrete fish-rearing raceways. These improvements will benefit anglers all over New York. The amount proposed in the executive budget, at $4 million, is more than we have been able to complete in the last several years combined and it’s being funded by the general fund and not the conservation fund. DEC’s fisheries bureau is also looking to purchase 16 new 6-tank trucks to replace 2000 and 2002 models that have accumulated 150,000-200,000 miles. That purchase could be expedited since no engineering work is involved, although it could be a year before DEC actually takes possession of the new trucks. A $1.9 project to address water problems at the Salmon River hatchery would be funded through the Natural Resources Damage account, according to the report. Cuomo’s budget also included language that would allow DEC to develop crossbow use regulations, reduce the setback requirement for bow hunters from 500 to 150 feet, and fund $6 million in access projects through the NYWorks program. I absolutely love that New York State is starting to make changes to the regulations for hunting and fishing. I also think that it is about time that the state is starting to come up with some money to replace some older things and to also repair some hatchery’s to make fishing better for us.