by Chris Bradley, President, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
According to the 2016 United States Fish & Wildlife Service National Survey of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation coupled with the 2020 Vermont Angler Survey, the Vermont fish culture programs generates approximately $39.6 Million worth of economic benefit to the State of Vermont in terms of tourism dollars generated through fishing alone. Given that the fish culture program operates with a $4.2 Million annual budget with a 60% federal match ratio ($2.5 Million), the State of Vermont’s annual return on investment is $23.00 for every $1.00 invested.
Disrupting the existing fish culture programs will adversely effect that ROI for years to come.
The Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs understands that the budget is tight, and cuts are necessary to balance the budget. We further understand that these cuts are painful and that they require tough decisions to be made, such as the suggestion to reduce costs in the F&W budget by cutting, or otherwise phasing out, the Salisbury Fish Culture Station.
Ultimately, it appears as though the Administration’s hands are tied; a balanced budget had to be delivered, and that could not be done without deep cuts. Salisbury however is a cut that will have disastrous effects for fishing in Vermont.
Regarding the possible closure, Act No. 71, Sec. 189(a) of the Vermont Public Acts of 2005 states: “The department of fish and wildlife shall obtain approval of the general assembly, or the joint fiscal committee if the general assembly is not in session, prior to taking any action that would result in closure or consolidation of fish culture operations.”
As we had concerns about the veracity of the true water quality issues at Salisbury, we researched and then authored a document that examines those water quality issues, both from an EPA and DEC standpoint, with that document found here. To our eyes, this issue of water quality and Salisbury appears to be greatly overstated.
When Salisbury was being consider for closure in 2019: This Closure report (3 pages) was writen by the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife. As a result of current discussions regarding a possible closure: This Closure report (6 pages) was drafted by the Agency of Natural Resources in late 2023.
Both reports are short, and we believe that they show the severe concerns why Salisbury cannot be abruptly closed, or even face a phased closure given the negative short-term and longer-term effects. Please take a few minutes to read them.
The decision to save Salisbury now rests with the Legislature with the solution being to increase F&W budget by finding cuts elsewhere: The effect(s) of closing Salisbury are just too dire.