By Garret Ellison, mlive.com
A 94-year-old state fish hatchery is poised for a multi-million dollar upgrade that would boost output of steelhead, walleye and muskellunge.
The Thompson State Fish Hatchery near Manistique is planning to build more fish rearing ponds and expand coolwater fish production with money included in the Department of Natural Resources fiscal 2017 budget.
The DNR will also use part of the $12.2 million project money to replace a backup generator and do major renovations to the Little Manistee fish weir near Stronach, the only steelhead egg-take facility in the state.
The money represents the largest investments in Michigan fish production facilities since funding was approved in 1998 to rebuild the Oden State Hatchery near Petoskey and construct an effluent management system at the Platte River State Hatchery near Beulah, said Ed Eisch, DNR fish production manager.
Read more: