In Case You Missed It: Agreement Finalized to Restore Rainbow Trout Stocking at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery

Statement

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement following a cooperative agreement that was reached to finally begin restoring rainbow trout stocking at Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery, which is located along the Colorado River south of the Hoover Dam:

"The agreement to restore rainbow trout stocking at Willow Beach is a win for jobs, Arizona's economy and sportsmen throughout the country. Countless individuals, including Senator John McCain and the good folks at the Arizona Game Fish Commission, stepped up and deserve thanks for speaking out after trout stocking was arbitrarily terminated. I'm proud that our collective efforts will protect trout fishing in Mohave County and the surrounding regions for future generations and I was honored to play an important role in saving this worthwhile program.

"I am also grateful that it only took the federal government 16 months to resume a program it should have never terminated in the first place and only about 6 months to finalize a cooperative agreement that everyone supported. Inflating repair costs by $8 million in order to justify terminating the rainbow trout program so the Service could focus on producing humpback chubs and suckers is a serious violation of trust. This dishonesty jeopardized 1,700 jobs and $75 million in associated impact.

"As such, I will not applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for being forced to do something they should have done voluntarily. Closing fish hatcheries and terminating important mitigation programs throughout the country is a bad idea and as the Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans, you better believe I will continue to closely monitor these programs moving forward."

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