As many of you know by now, Dannel Malloy has proposed axing the funding for the Kensington Trout and Salmon Hatchery. This is the only facility in the state that has the water quality sufficient to produce Atlantic salmon and Seeforellen brown trout. The other hatcheries in the state can't even pick up the difference in other trout produced by Kensington, since they're already operating at maximum capacity. The only outcome possible will be: no Atlantic salmon broodstock in CT rivers, no Seeforellen browns in CT, much fewer other trout in our streams and lakes, no Trout in the Classroom programs or Atlantic Salmon hatch and release programs in CT Schools.
What can YOU do? The Connecticut legislature will be deciding on this issue in May. Take the attached letter, or write your own, and send it to the cochairmen of the Appropriations Committee and your district representative. If we don't do this, we lose out. It will not be restored again.

Dear Representative (your representative's name),
My name is ( ), and I have been a Connecticut resident for ( ) years. I am writing you to urge you to support the Kensington Hatchery and continue its funding. This facility is a valuable resource to our state's economy, sportsmen and educational institutions.
There are 65 schools, with 6,414 students, presently involved in the Salmon in the Classroom program. There are 86 schools, 103 tanks and an estimated 10,000 students involved and affected to some degree in the Trout In Classroom Schools, 103 tanks
Trout in the Classroom programs, with tanks in their schools containing fish that can only be supplied from the Kensington Hatchery. That hatchery alone has the water quality and disease-free Seeforellen brown trout stocks to supply these programs. These fish provide an interesting and hands-on educational resource that engages students in their work and makes their learning real, relevant and meaningful. They are used to teach about genetics, aquaculture, growth and development, math skills, teamwork, problem-solving, data organization and many other aspects of a well-rounded education. What can you think of that more directly fits the STEM education that is currently being encouraged in our Connecticut schools?
Connecticut's economy and sportsmen also benefit from the hatchery. It supplies resident and nonresident fishermen with countless hours of quality outdoor recreation and brings in money through fishing licenses, tackle sales, motel stays and restaurant meals. The savings from closing this facility would be superseded by the money lost to our economy, and the quality of life in our state would be diminished for many. The hatchery's funding is supported, for a large part, by fishing licenses purchased for the purpose of using the products of this hatchery and cutting its funding would do very little to offset our current fiscal deficit.
Please take this into consideration when making your decision on this matter.

Respectfully,

it would be helpful to list the representatives names and addresses for non resident's
who pay a hefty price for out of state licenses. I will be contacting Cabela's today to see if they can have a petition signing
at the grand opening in Berlin on march 26th
(tomorrow) as it's in their best interest to do so.
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a little off topic but...........
I Also believe in stocking striped bass the same as i believe in desalination plants
being built all along the California coast as the drought there will send food prices a mile high.
One was just built in San Diego and it cost 1 billion to make it a reality.

I will send a letter-

I don't freshwater fish very much, but this is a worthwhile program.

I sent my letter weeks ago . Hope it helps . Its important that we don't loose this hatchery . For us , the kids and the fish .

Here are the Legislators contact information
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/CGAFindLeg.asp

Here is the Governors contact info
http://www.governor.ct.gov/malloy/cwp/view.asp?a=4011&Q=470846