Fish stocking programs around Alaska are under way

Out & About, by Howard Delo

Dave Rutz is the ADF&G, Sport Fish Division's (SFD) Area Management Biologist for the Northern Cook Inlet Management Area (NCIMA). Dave's 21-year career in Fish and Game has included hatchery work with the now-defunct F.R.E.D. Division; several years in the SFD Boating Access Program; and research projects involving king and coho salmon, rainbow trout, and the lake stocking program. He served as the lead biologist for the Southcentral Region's northern pike research project and worked as the NCIMA Assistant Area Management Biologist prior to being promoted to Area Management Biologist about three years ago.

I spoke recently with Dave about some of his ideas to improve sport-fishing opportunities in the valley. "The valley population is growing steadily," Dave said, "and with that growth, sport-fishing pressure on our wild stocks of rainbow trout is also increasing. To relieve some of the pressure on the wild populations, as well as expand the existing sport-fishing opportunities in the valley, we would like to stock an additional 20 lakes with rainbows." The state currently stocks nearly 80 lakes in the Mat-Su area. "We would also like to expand the landlocked salmon and arctic char lake stocking programs, and possibly reintroduce the lake trout stocking program," he continued.

In addition to this ambitious schedule, Dave is also involved in the introduction of a king salmon run to the Eklutna Tailrace, off the Knik River. "Because of current hatchery rearing space limitations, we are using half of the fish normally destined for the Willow Creek enhancement project to begin the Eklutna Tailrace project," Dave said. He hopes that proposed improvements in Ft. Richardson Hatchery's fish rearing capacities will allow him to restore the Willow king salmon enhancement project to its full numbers while continuing the Eklutna project.

I asked Dave about a timetable for all these sport-fishing improvements. He explained: " The expanded lake stocking programs are dependent on either the expansion of Ft. Rich hatchery or the construction of a new, state-of-the-art fish hatchery, possibly somewhere in the Interior or Southcentral Alaska." Given the process of securing agency approval and funding; doing the design and construction of the hatchery; and the time to develop the necessary brood stocks of fish and reach full production, Dave is hoping that within the next 10 years, the valley will see the expansion of the NCIMA stocking program as he envisions it.

The feasibility study of the Eklutna king salmon enhancement project is already underway. However, to return the Willow project to its full quota of fish and continue developing the Eklutna king runs will require additional rearing space not currently available at Ft. Richardson Hatchery. Dave estimated that, if expansion plans currently being tested at Ft. Rich are successful, within three-to-five years, both the Willow and Eklutna king salmon projects could have maximum numbers of fish available for enhancement of the runs.

If you would like more specifics on any of these fisheries projects, Dave can be reached at the Palmer ADF&G office at 746-6300. I intend to stay in touch with Dave and will keep you informed as things develop.

I called Bob Clark, the SFD Southcentral Regional Supervisor, to discuss the hatchery situations Dave had outlined. Bob explained that Sport Fish is currently assessing the projected sport-fishing needs of Southcentral and the Interior through the next 20 years. Based on those expected projections, the Division will be investigating the potential for increasing the capacity of Ft. Richardson Hatchery to expand production to meet these needs.

Options to increase production at Fort Richardson are being factored into future plans along with the need for a new hatchery.

If a new hatchery is needed, Bob said the preferred location would likely be central to where the bulk of the increased fisheries production is required. That means the hatchery could be located in Fairbanks, or Delta, Anchorage, or even right here in the Mat-Su. The next few years could see significant changes and improvements to sport fishing in the valley. Stay tuned.

On a related note, the Sport Fish Division is developing a five-year strategic plan to "improve the overall effectiveness of the Division and to be more accountable to Alaskans and others who benefit from our fishery resources."

The Division has been working on this plan for the last year and is looking for public input and comment. If you would like to participate, copies of the plan are available at the Palmer Fish and Game office.

The back page contains a comments section and is ready for mailing, postage paid. You can also review and comment on the plan over the Internet by accessing the Sport Fish Division's Strategic Plan home page at http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/stratplan/html/psphome.htm. The deadline for public comment is the end of August. They hope to have a final draft available by early this winter.

Howard Delo is a retired Fish and Wildlife biologist.