LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved a budget increase of $5.73 million today at its monthly meeting to cover the costs of several pressing projects.
The largest project on the list is the renovation of Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery, which produces trout, for $3.27 million. An additional, $3.5 million was approved in June. With today’s approval, the total cost to renovate the hatchery will be $6.7 million.
Other projects are Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area’s south greentree reservoir, at a total cost of $2.8 million, of which $1.6 million was approved by the Commission today and the remaining $1.2 million comes from a Ducks Unlimited $1 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant and a $100,000 match from DU and $100,000 match from the AGFC; Lake Overcup dam repair, $500,000; Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center roof repair, $150,000; Tri-County Lake fishing pier, $150,000; and Payneway Dam repair at St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA, $60,000.
Funds for the projects will be moved from the Stability and Enhancement Fund to the AGFC’s 2022 fiscal year operating budget of $94,985,062, which was approved at the July meeting.
AGFC Director Austin Booth was authorized to continue an agreement to manage 11,850 acres at the University of Arkansas Pine Tree Experimental Station Wildlife Demonstration Area. The agreement lasts through the end of 2021, although the AGFC and the UA Division of Agriculture are working to create a long-term partnership to manage the area, which is popular among local sportsmen and women.
Booth said the projects approved today are a perfect representation of how important our infrastructure and wildlife management areas are to Arkansans and therefore to the AGFC. “These projects will benefit thousands of Arkansas outdoorsmen from all across the state from all different walks of life--from trout anglers, to public land hunters, and folks that simply love fishing from the bank. I am grateful for Commissioners' approval and am excited to see these projects bring more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors."
Today’s meeting was the first for Booth and Commissioner Philip Tappan. Booth’s first day as director was July 1, the same day Tappan was appointed.
Several changes to licenses and penalties for infractions were proposed, including a regulation that would allow former Arkansas residents who hold a Waterfowl Hunting Permit and a Resident Lifetime License for hunting purchased before Sept. 1, 2021, to hunt waterfowl on any wildlife management area without a Nonresident Waterfowl Hunting Permit.
“These codes allow folks who were bona fide residents at the time they purchased their lifetime licenses, prior to Sept. 1, 2021, to continue to hold that license and not be subject to the WMA date restrictions even if they have moved out of state since they purchased their lifetime license,” John Marks, AGFC senior assistant general counsel, said.
Those proposals will come before a vote at the Aug. 19 meeting.