State building commission approves projects at Wild Rose Fish Hatchery, state forest and marsh
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/releases/article/?id=3588
MADISON, Wis. — A project to increase walleye production at the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery as well as separate projects for improvements at Black River State Forest and Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area gained approval from the State of Wisconsin Building Commission Wednesday.
The $1.1 million project at Wild Rose, part of the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative and included in the 2014-2015 state capital budget, will help the hatchery increase production of extended growth fingerling walleyes from 58,000 to 80,000 fish per year. The 6 to 8 inch fingerling walleyes are stocked in fall as part of an effort to restore naturally reproducing walleye populations and improve walleye numbers in waters where stocking is needed to maintain a strong sport fishery.
Dave Giehtbrock, DNR fisheries culture section chief, said the funds will be used to improve biosecurity, install a new well with a pump house and enable existing solar and settling ponds to be used for fish production. In addition to walleye, the Wild Rose Hatchery produces brown trout, chinook and coho salmon and musky fingerlings.
“We’re pleased to be able to move forward with these hatchery upgrades and continue expanding production of the larger walleye fingerlings,” Giehtbrock said. “In some waters, the larger fingerlings have shown significantly better survival rates than the smaller fish, so the ability to increase production will help improve opportunities for anglers.”
The project is expected to be completed by February 2016.
Also Wednesday, the building commission approved spending $516,900 for a new equipment storage building at the Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area and $396,200 for a new toilet and shower building at Castle Mound Campground in the Black River State Forest.
To learn more about Wisconsin’s fish hatchery operations, visit DNR.wi.gov and search for “hatcheries and rearing stations” or “Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery.” More information about “Black River State Forest” and “Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area” also can be found online.