Fish & Game requests $1.75M for three facility repairs to protect assets and operations

Fish & Game Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Simick told the Fiscal Committee the agency submitted a modest capital request of roughly $1.75 million focused on three critical facility projects intended to protect public assets and field operations.

Simick said the Su Falls site (a repurposed hydroelectric plant in Concord area) is functionally inefficient and vulnerable to vandalism; funding would reconfigure interior space, add reinforced windows, and improve security. "The interior reconfiguration and reinforced windows are our primary focus but the security is also top priority," she said.

At the Lancaster Armory the department seeks repairs and interior redesign (offices and training/lab space) following roof damage; Fish & Game said it recently replaced the roof with a small federal contribution but still needs mildew remediation and improved insulation. The Bunker Lane barn in Durham is experiencing structural failure at the rear third of the building; staff proposed a replacement building (approx. 40-by-60 feet / ~2,400 sq ft) to restore secure storage for boats, nets and telemetry equipment.

Fish & Game staff noted hatcheries and broader capital needs remain but said the agency submitted a conservative request this cycle while continuing to pursue alternative and sustainable funding approaches.

Next steps: Fish & Game will provide technical details and sizes for proposed replacements and continue work on hatchery maintenance under existing projects.