For Release: August 1, 2011

Contacts: Roger Gordon, (231) 584-2461 or Roger_Gordon@fws.gov
Annette Dombrowski, Annette_Dombrowski@fws.gov

FFS #R3PA, R3PB, R3PC, R3PF

Elmira, Michigan – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host an open house and building dedication ceremony at Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in Elmira, Mich., on Thursday, August 18. The event marks the completion of hatchery improvement projects including; construction of two fish rearing facilities, a geothermal heating system, and improvement of the fish hatchery effluent treatment system funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Invited guests include Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Service Regional Director Tom Melius, and multiple Great Lakes conservation partners.

Who:   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Jordan River National Fish Hatchery
What:  Open house, building dedication, and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of fish rearing facility and other hatchery installations. The Jordan River Hatchery Friends Group will offer free kids fishing and BBQ luncheon at the event.
When:  August 18, 2011. The open house will be from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. August 18, 2011
Where: 6623 Turner Rd. Elmira, Mich.

The effluent project will allow the hatchery to minimize discharges of phosphorous into the Jordan River, which has been designated as a National Wildlife and Scenic River. Recovery funding also supported construction of a pre-engineered building to cover thirty-two of the hatchery’s raceways. The unheated, metal building is approximately 140 feet wide by 400 feet long, and is placed over raceway series 1 – 8, for a total square footage of approximately 56,000.

Installation of an energy efficient geothermal heating will also help offset the energy demands of the federal fish hatchery and save annual operational costs.

Jordan River NFH supports native species rehabilitation through production and stocking of lake trout for the Great Lakes, with a long-term goal of establishing self-sustaining lake trout populations. The hatchery annually propagates approximately three million lake trout, which are released into Lakes Michigan and Huron by the Service’s Great Lakes stocking vessel, the M/V Spencer F. Baird.

For more information about the Service’s Fisheries program and the Jordan River NFH, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries and http://www.fws.gov/midwest/jordanriver or you can visit the hatchery on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/i4jfDV

Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping middle class families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.

For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://on.fb.me/i4jfDV for a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.

For more information, view the Event Invitation.