Governor Bill Richardson Announces Major Fish Stocking Operation in San Juan River

Press Release

Governor Bill Richardson Announces Major Fish Stocking Operation in San Juan River

Game & Fish Department will Stock 83,500 Fish Over Next Two Weeks

Governor Bill Richardson today announced that The Department of Game and
Fish will stock 3,500 9-inch rainbow trout into the San Juan River, New Mexico's premier trout fishing destination on Thursday. The Department also plans an additional stocking of 80,000 4-inch rainbow trout next week.

"The San Juan River is a world-class fishing destination and is a vital part of New Mexico's tourism industry," Governor Richardson said. "We must maintain and enhance this wonderful river. This re-stocking shows our commitment to ensuring that that the San Juan remains one of
the top ten fishing rivers in the world."

Governor Richardson has also directed Game and Fish to fully investigate and quickly address concerns recently raised over the quality of river. In addition, Governor Richardson has requested $400,000 for San Juan River habitat improvement in his 2010 budget. Economic impact studies of the San Juan fishery have determined its value at close to $40 million annually.

The rainbow trout are coming from the Lisboa Springs Hatchery in Pecos and the Red River Hatchery near Questa. Due to the excellent growing conditions in the river, those fish are expected to grow about one inch a month.

Assisting in the stocking will be local fishing guides and outfitters who will move the rainbows throughout the Special Trout Waters - the upper four
miles of the river.

"Like the governor, the State Game Commission and the Department are fully committed to providing a first-class angling experience on the San Juan River," said Jim McClintic, chairman of the Commission. "We want to continue to improve what we are doing on that river. The Governor has challenged us to continue to improve that fishery and we want to be on the cutting
edge," he said.

"Surveys of the San Juan have recognized a significant increase of brown trout in the San Juan," said Fisheries Chief Mike Sloane. The consistent fall flows of the river during the browns' fall spawning season may be contributing to their increase.

In January, The Department of Game and Fish stocked 30,000 rainbow trout in the San Juan River, on top of the more than 108,000 trout stocked in river last year.

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