MADISON, WI -- According to accounts found in the media today, Senator Quinn (R-Birchwood) learned the Department of Natural Resources will end operations at the Brule State Fish Hatchery despite unanimous approval by the Joint Committee on Finance to keep it open.
“Today I learned through the media that the DNR is defying bipartisan action in the legislature to continue operations at the Brule Fish Hatchery,” Quinn said. “I have waited weeks for a response from the department on how they planned to allocate the spending increases only to find out in the news that they are defying the legislature entirely. This lack of communication is wildly unacceptable.”
In May, the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance unanimously approved a motion authored by Quinn to continue operations at the Brule State Fish Hatchery in response to the DNR’s proposed facility closures and cuts to walleye, musky, and trout stocking. The motion included $1,393,800 for fish stocking and culture activities, $792,000 for fisheries habitat management (including the hiring of employees and salaries), and $694,900 for fisheries monitoring and assessment activities (including the hiring of employees and salaries).
Related: Sen. Quinn on ‘DrydenWire Live’ Discusses State Surplus Debate, Fish Hatchery, Campaign Politics
“The approved funding was meant to ensure that the department had the resources it asked for to do what they said they were going to do,” Quinn said. “The money must be used to restore the cuts to stocking and the motion required DNR to keep open the Brule Hatchery. This is a failure of leadership by the DNR Secretary and ultimately Governor Evers.”
According to the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Fisheries Management subprogram has gone from spending $13.9 million in 2017-18 to $17.8 million in 2024-26, a 27% increase. During that same time period, fish stocking is down 1.3 million fish (all species). Additionally, from 2021-2025, the DNR has been underspending in both the wildlife management and fisheries management subprogram in order to increase spending on the park subprogram.
“If this is how the department plans to operate under Secretary Hyun, she should start looking for a new job this January.”
Last Update: Jun 11, 2026 4:04 pm CDT
