Not every fish hatchery ever built has been a good one. Water supplies vary in quantity and quality. That and other site specific characteristics cause some hatcheries to be very productive and some to be marginal, at best. But because hatcheries are generally popular, no legislator wants the hatchery located in his district closed, even if it's the least productive hatchery in the state. And legislators use their political influence to get hatcheries built and to keep them running, even when the hatchery is a poor investment of public funds.

If there is some good to come from the current recession, it is forcing state agencies, like ODFW and WDFW to prioritize which facilities are most important, and the most cost effective in productivity, because budget cuts are going to force closures. I hope the hatcheries that survive the cut are the most productive ones, rather than the ones with the most political backing.

Sg