This was posted by Mike Covey on Fish802 FB site
"I’ve had a lot of folks asking me why they are closing the Salisbury hatchery knowing how detrimental this will be to Vermonters and our fishery. According to Commissioner Herrick it is simply because Governor Scott told him to close it. When the commissioner acknowledged that the hatchery was in compliance with their discharge permit, ANR Secretary Julie Moore deflected to macroinvertebrates, but according to the 2025 budget booklet it appears the decision to immediately close the hatchery is the result of pay raises.
The outdoor community had a handshake agreement with Governor Scott in 2019. Leaders from several sporting organizations met with he and his staff in his ceremonial office and signed an agreement to support a fee increase on hunting, fishing, and combination licenses as a mechanism for keeping the hatchery running; and for most of this community it has been a real gut punch to see the administration go back on that agreement.
To now learn that the Salisbury closure is a knee-jerk reaction to funding raises that were finalized way back in August is incredibly disappointing.
See page 7 of the Budget Overview
https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documen ... 7LmjgOgBx4
2 IMPORTANT UPCOMING MEETINGS
Short notice, folks, but the legislature wants to hear from you. If you care about our trout fishery, make plans to attend one of these public hearings on Tuesday or Thursday and speak. Sign up now.
We are moving the needle, folks!
The legislature will be holding a Public Hearing on the Governor’s Recommended Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. This is your chance to show up and ask them to find a way to keep the Salisbury hatchery working for Vermonters!
The Vermont House Committee on Appropriations and Senate Committee on Appropriations will jointly hold two public hearings on
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. and
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
in person at the State House in Room 11 or via Zoom.
The Committee will take testimony on the Governor’s budget at the above dates and times.
Anyone interested in testifying should sign up in advance of the hearing through the following online form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx... no later than February 12, 2024 at 12:00 noon for the February 13 hearing and no later than February 19 at 12:00 noon for the February 20 hearing.
Instructions on how to access and participate in the hearing will be sent once you have signed up for the hearing.
Written testimony is also an option and can be submitted electronically through email at testimony2024@leg.state.vt.us or mailed to the House Committee on Appropriations, c/o Erin Viera, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633"
ADDED NOTE FROM STATE re SIGN UP as of 9am MON FEB 12
We have reached the maximum amount of participants for both the Feb. 13th and 20th public hearings. You can still submit written testimony via e-mail to testimony2024@leg.state.vt.us. Please indicate in the subject line FY25 Budget.