Hatchery closure

I heard that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was planning to close the Tokul Creek Fish Hatchery in about two months.

Budget, the old “hatchery versus wild steelhead” fears, and a newly-found desire to return the whole Snoqualmie River Basin back to a natural environment were the cockamamie reasons I heard.

What are these people thinking of? Are they out of their ever-loving minds and want to test how many times sport fishermen will being stabbed in the back before voting the current administration and commission out of office? Do they want to destroy one of the best-producing fish hatcheries in the state, one which has a cost-free, gravity-fed supply of water for fish rearing — an establishment that has a well-earned, sterling operational reputation over a century, and is a valuable resource for local and state fishermen?

This is a hatchery operated at minimal cost to the public and efficiently run by a minimum staff of three persons who have willingly given the state and the public dedication, cooperation, information, and countless hours of service far beyond “8 to 5” hours. I have seen the work they do and enjoyed the results they achieved. I cannot praise more highly manager Darin Combs, and staff Debi Sanchez and Duane Richer. They are assets to the state, county and local community.

Close Tokul Creek Fish Hatchery? Go back to the drawing board, WDFW, and come up with a better budget and better plan. Forget or delay some of the 50 or more expensive and extensive work projects you and various state and county departments would like to do in the Snoqualmie Basin: and instead better serve the citizens of this area properly, and keep the money, personnel and fish at Tokul Hatchery where we need them.

Milt Keizer

Fall City