Wild Rose Fish Hatchery Renovation Project

Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) funds were used with Natural Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA), Fish and Wildlife Segregated Fees (SEG) and Salmon Stamp funds (SS) to build the award winning Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, Coldwater Fish rearing facility and Coolwater Fish rearing facility. The cost of the entire project was $34.9 million dollars. The Wild Rose Hatchery renovation project is a state of the art fish hatchery which produces fish for stocking with modern technologies that conserve natural resources and optimize fish rearing conditions while educating the public about hatcheries and other aquatic resource issues. The construction costs for the Visitor Center were $1 million dollars. Every year since 2008 when the construction was completed, over 5000 guests visit the Visitor Center.  Interactive exhibits help visitors to identify fish species and required habitat.  Invasive species exhibits encourage visitors to search and identify Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) present in Wisconsin waters, including the fish virus, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) and how to prevent the spread of invasives. Younger visitors get a chance to work in a replica fish production setting with interactive displays, where they can sort fish, count eggs, and dissect fish. Visitors also enjoy viewing and identifying multiple freshwater fish species in two 300-gallon aquariums and learn about more than a century of fish propagation history in Wisconsin. Construction cost for the Coldwater Fish production facilities was $14.9 million dollars. Funding came from SFR, NRDA, SS and the balance was paid for with Fish and Wildlife supported SEG bonding. Current production is approximately 2 million trout and salmon, primarily for the Great Lakes, plus a disease free brown trout broodstock used to provide eggs for statewide production. Water treatments, efficient motors and gravity allow for significant water and utility cost savings. Phase 2 Construction cost was $17.7 million dollars. Funding came from Fish and Wildlife account (SEG) supported bonding. Current production is approximately 500,000 total fingerling and yearling. Species produced are walleye, northern pike, muskie and lake sturgeon. State of the art water treatment and heat recovery systems were designed to reduce utility costs and impacts on ground and surface waters.