[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 4576-4577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE NORFORK AND GREERS FERRY NATIONAL FISH HATCHERIES

  (Mr. CRAWFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the 
Congressional Record Arkansas House Resolution 1014 that was recently 
passed on February 24 of this year by the Arkansas House of 
Representatives.
  Fish hatcheries at the Norfork and Greers Ferry Dams are vital 
components of the economy in north central Arkansas. They provide vital 
fish stock not only to Arkansas' waterways but to Arkansas' neighbors 
as well, and they help draw sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts from all 
over the world.

     State of Arkansas
     88th General Assembly
     Regular Session, 2011

     By: Representatives Linck, Hopper, Benedict

       House resolution--Requesting that the President of the 
     United States and the Arkansas congressional delegation 
     support and continue the immediate and future funding of the 
     Norfork and Greers Ferry National Fish Hatcheries.
       Subtitle--Requesting that the President of the United 
     States and the Arkansas congressional delegation support and 
     continue the immediate and future funding of the Norfork and 
     Greers Ferry National Fish Hatcheries.
       Whereas, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service plans to 
     cut the budgets for the trout hatcheries below Norfork and 
     Greers Ferry dams; and
       Whereas, these fish hatcheries provide the foundation for 
     Arkansas's world-renowned trout fishery waters that produce a 
     total economic impact of well over one hundred fifty million 
     dollars ($150,000,000) annually but only cost taxpayers 
     approximately one million five hundred thousand dollars 
     ($1,500,000) annually to operate. The hatcheries at Norfork 
     and Greers Ferry dams alone generate five million five 
     hundred

[[Page 4577]]

     thousand dollars ($5,500,000) in federal tax revenues, 
     roughly three dollars and sixty-five cents ($3.65) for every 
     one dollar ($1.00) invested; and
       Whereas, seventy-five (75) years ago, north Arkansas's 
     White River was arguably the best smallmouth bass stream in 
     America. Fisherman came from all over the country to 
     experience once-in-a-lifetime float trips down the beautiful 
     bluff-lined river; and
       Whereas, upon a series of dams being built in the White 
     River basin in the 1940s, the federal government assured the 
     state's citizens that mitigation efforts would be included to 
     offset the loss of the river's incredibly productive native 
     fishery. The key component of this commitment was the 
     construction of Norfork National Fish Hatchery in 1955 near 
     Norfork Dam and the establishment of world-class trout waters 
     below both Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes; and
       Whereas, a decade later, the trout hatchery at the base of 
     Greers Ferry Dam provided the means for a similarly 
     successful fishery to be established at the Little Red River 
     in Greers Ferry; and
       Whereas, these modest projects rank among the all-time 
     success stories of our federal government because of the 
     overall economic impact and return on investment they 
     produce; and
       Whereas, fish production at the Norfork hatchery employs 
     nine hundred ninety-four (994) individuals, and the Greers 
     Ferry hatchery employs an additional seven hundred fifty-two 
     (752) people; and
       Whereas, dozens of resorts employing hundreds of 
     individuals have been established in these world-class 
     fishing areas because of the increase in tourism. The town of 
     Cotter, Arkansas, for example, bills itself as ``Trout 
     Capital USA''; and
       Whereas, trout fishing in the. White River basin is worth 
     about three times the annual flood losses prevented by 
     Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greers Ferry, and 
     Clearwater reservoirs, and these structures averted fifty-one 
     million four hundred thousand dollars ($51,400,000) in 
     damages in the last fiscal year; and
       Whereas, the electricity generated from Bull Shoals Lake 
     and Norfork Lake averages approximately one hundred million 
     dollars ($100,000,000) of electricity each year, but the 
     trout fishery is worth an additional fifty percent (50%) more 
     than that on an annual basis; and
       Whereas, investment in the Norfork and Greers Ferry fish 
     hatcheries has consistently demonstrated positive returns for 
     more than half a century. The federal government's goal to 
     reduce the federal deficit and increase economic growth would 
     be damaged, not enhanced, if funding for trout programs is 
     reduced or eliminated to the detriment of its promise to 
     Arkansas and to these small towns whose livelihood depends on 
     the fish hatcheries; Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Eighty-
     Eighth General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, That the 
     President and Congress of the United States work together to 
     continue the immediate and future funding of the national 
     fish hatcheries at Norfork and Greers Ferry dams and allow 
     the investment in these hatcheries to continue to contribute 
     to the economic vitality of these towns, the State of 
     Arkansas, and the entire country. Be it further
       Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to 
     the President of the United States, to the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives and the President of the Senate of 
     the United States Congress, and to all the members of the 
     Arkansas Congressional Delegation with the request that this 
     resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record.

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