I think what USFWS would love would be for the federal hatcheries to shut down and the states be forced to take them over. Of course, TWRA's budget is already cut to the bone - keep in mind that they do not get money from the State's general fund for operations.
So either Tennessee would close the hatcheries entirely because they could not afford to operate them, or they'd take over the hatcheries but be forced to drastically raise fishing license prices to cover the operating budget. Right now, federal hatchery costs are spread out over a nationwide federal budget - if it shifts to the State, and ONLY to those people in the State who buy licenses, we fishermen will each individually bear a much greater part of the overall cost.
It's important to remember that the feds have built hydroelectric dams that alter tailwater environments so drastically that nothing can really thrive there in any great numbers but stocked trout (due to extremely cold water and constantly fluctuating depth and current). If they're going to do this, then they ought to be obligated to mitigate for the loss of smallmouth, muskie, walleye, sauger, crappie, white bass, bluegill, etc., by providing a substitute fishery.
bd
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