On Valentine's Day of 2011, a press release disclosed President Obama's plans that target cutting funds for nine of the 70 fish hatcheries in the Southeast region of the United States. As a part of the 2012 budget proposal, the plans propose a cut of 21.3 percent, from $54.37 million spent in 2010 to $42.47 million. 

Of the nine fish hatcheries targeted, two hatcheries- Norfork and Greer's Ferry, provide enough evidence to halt the budget cuts. Norfork National Fish Hatchery's economic impact is massive; it generates $94.98 for every dollar spent, and the projected economic output for 2010 trout production is $90,400.000.  This is just one fact documented by a fish hatchery, with the 69 other hatcheries possessing similar statistics. 

While the facts are there, facts do little to dissuade Washington.  It will be the voices of the lovers of the rivers and trout fishing who want adequate and necessary funding for the hatcheries that must reveal and assemble their voices to be heard by the United States Fish and Wild Service and beyond. We must make it known that it is the federal government's duty to maintain the hatcheries to mitigate the loss of the native fisheries that existed in the White and Little Red Rivers before the dams were built. 

We call upon support from you to stop the devastating environmental and economic effects of cutting the funds for the fish hatcheries.  We urge you to please sign this petition, whether you fish or not, to save trout fishing in the Southeast and keep the government accountable for their actions.  Furthermore, it is not logical to cut funding for programs that produce far more money than they cost.  Overall, the petition is for the protection and progress towards keeping future generations discovering the outdoors, keeping outlets for people to know the beauty and power of the environment, and asserting the government's responsibility to maintain its land for posterity.