Assistant Regional Director for Fisheries, Gerry Jackson, served as master of ceremonies for a short program addressing the need for such a building and the importance of the lake trout program in general. Jackson also provided a brief historical look at the Sullivan Creek hatchery, which has been providing fish for 70 years to various programs.

Sherrie Davie, the Regional Manager for Senator Debbie Stabenow's Upper Peninsula Office, congratulated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's continuing success in the lake trout restoration program. She also assured the community of the Senator's continued support of this and other fisheries programs.

Regional Director Robyn Thorson thanked the staff for their continued hard work and the community for their support.

Approximately 150 people came out to view the new building and the 12,500 resident lake trout. They were treated with ongoing tours and explanations about the lake trout program by the staff. Also on-hand were many displays and booths set up by the Jordan River NFH, Iron River NFH, Seney NWR, Sea Lamprey Control from the Marquette Biological Station, and the Forest Service. The Michigan DNR brought Smokey the Bear, who provided many great photo opportunities.

Many kids competed in the lake trout coloring contest and the fish bowl challenge. Robyn Thorson and Gerry Jackson served as judges for the coloring contest, which awarded prizes in two age groups. For the fish bowl challenge, kids had to guess the number of fish shaped cookies in the fish bowl ? the winner, of course, got to eat all the cookies.

The Friends of the Pendills Creek Fish Hatchery provided refreshments, held a silent auction to help raise money for their future projects and recruited some new members.

The major construction of the building was completed in the summer of 2003; however, some minor work and spawning season forced the dedication to be held off until this summer. The 27,216 square foot steel building replaced four separate weatherport covers that had previously been in place over the 16 raceways. After a year of use, the staff is pleased by the easier access, the lack of predator problems, and the happier and healthier fish.

The broodstock from this facility provide eggs to Pendills Creek NFH, Jordan River NFH, Iron River NFH, and Allegheny NFH as well as some state fish hatcheries. These eggs are then hatched and raised at the aforementioned facilities for a year and a half, approximately 5 ? 7 inches long, then stocked on reefs in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. The goal of this program is to reach a self-sustaining lake trout population in the entire Great Lakes.