News Roundup

East Texas Fish Hatchery

Project Background

• In 2000, planning was initiated for a fish hatchery that would successfully replace the 70+ year old Jasper Fish Hatchery that has not seen major improvements since 1946.
• Conceptual plan target was at least 50 acres of lined ponds to produce at least the numbers of fish that the old Jasper hatchery produced (~1.5 — 3.0 million fish).
• Selection of Jasper County proposal in 2004 provided up to 200 acres of land for the hatchery and the possibility of delivering water from Lake Sam Rayburn to the hatchery via siphon (gravity flow after initiation of the siphon) during much of the production year.
  • Gravity flow, when available, significantly reduces operating costs (electricity to operate large pumps) on a hatchery.
• Executive decision (fall 2005) by Department to maximize production capability statewide at this facility to better meet current and future needs where operating costs are reduced.
  • The hatchery production size was increased approximately 30% to fully utilize the land donated to the Department. This will increase the number of fish produced from ~1.5 million currently produced to 4-5 million fish per year and better meet current and future needs.
  • The overall project cost is anticipated to exceed the 2001 estimate of $16 -18 million for the smaller hatchery. Accurate construction costs were difficult to predict prior to acquisition of the site and facility design. Anticipated cost increases are principally the result of escalating cost of construction and building materials as well as an increase in the desired size and scope of the facility. Since 2001, a very conservative increase in construction costs is estimated at 30-40%. Local TXDOT uses a 10% per year construction increase in estimates.

Project Partners

• Jasper County provided 200 acres of property (cleared and grubbed) and will be constructing a county road (approx. 0.8 mile) to the project site.
• LNVA will provide 10,000 acre feet of water from Sam Rayburn Reservoir for hatchery operations (Water Use Agreement is pending)
• Temple Inland provided easements to accommodate the county road as well as all site utilities and water conveyance lines. The current agreement was transferred to the Campbell Group after Temple Inland sold its holding in 2007.
• USACOE provided easements to accommodate the facility water intake station, site utilities and water conveyance lines.

Stamp revenues to date (as of 8/6/2008)

• $24,325,240

Stamp expenditures to date (as of 8/6/2008)

• $8,562,329

Project Timeline

2003 May

• Fish Stamp is authorized by the 78th Texas Legislature.

2004 February

• TPWD signs MOA with TPWF to help in new hatchery site selection

FY 2005

2004 September

• Fish Stamp is implemented and revenues are collected.

2004 November

• East Texas Site Selection made by TPW Commission (Site in Jasper County below Lake Sam Rayburn Dam)

79th Texas Legislative Session (January-May 2005)

• Texas Legislature granted TPWD $15M bond authority for ETFH.

August 2005

• Design and Programming contract for East Texas Fish Hatchery signed with FishPro.

FY2006

• Project planning and design

FY 2007

• Bonds sold in February 2007

80th Texas Legislature (January-May 2007)

• Legislature authorized expenditure of stamp balance of $12.3 M.

FY 2008

Current Status:

• Hatchery Design was completed in December 2007
• A request for Competitive Sealed Proposals was released in January 2008
• Proposals were received and evaluated in March 2008
• Project scoped had to be modified to fit within available funding

• Notice of Award was issued to ALLCO (Construction firm from Beaumont) on June 4, 2008 for $27.0 million
• Notice to Proceed was issues to ALLCO on June 16, 2008
• Construction began July 2008 and is scheduled for completion early in 2010.

Project Scope (current contract):

• Project will include 45 acres of production ponds, a 34,000 ft2 production building, and 8,200 ft2 administrative office space.
• 22 acres of production ponds, a 8200 ft2 and 10,300 ft2 maintenance shop and storage area to accommodate both the hatchery staff and IF management aquatic habitat enhancement and law enforcement staff, and the chemical storage facility were deferred in order to bring the project into the available budget.