McNenny State Fish Hatchery, Spearfish, South Dakota, USA primarily produces trout and salmon for stocking into public recreational fishing waters in South Dakota. Hatchery operations at McNenny are funded solely by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and an excise tax on fishing equipment. This analysis evaluated the contribution of hatchery expenditures and trout and salmon production on the economy of South Dakota for calendar year 2025. The statewide economic contribution attributable to hatchery operations in 2025 was estimated to be $120,000,000. Based on annual hatchery expenditures, the hatchery generated $133 of statewide economic output for every budgetary dollar spent in 2025.
References
[1]
American Sportfishing Association (2007). State and National Economic Effects of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Related Recreation on U.S. Forest Service-Managed Lands.
[2]
Barnes, M. E. (2007). Fish Hatcheries and Stocking Practices: Past and Present. In C. Berry, K. Higgins, D. Willis, & S. Chipps (Eds.), History of Fisheries and Fishing in South Dakota (pp. 267-294). South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre.
[3]
Barnes, M. E., & Palmer, T. (2019). Economic Impact of McNenny State Fish Hatchery, Spearfish, South Dakota, Usa. Modern Economy, 10, 1581-1588. https://doi.org/10.4236/me.2019.106104
[4]
Bessette, R. W. (2003). Measuring the Economic Impact of University-Based Research. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 28, 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024917601088
[5]
Blanco, L. R., Gu, J., & Prieger, J. E. (2016). The Impact of Research and Development on Economic Growth and Productivity in the U.S. States. Southern Economic Journal, 82, 914-934. https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12107
[6]
Bureau of Economic Analysis (2018). Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account: Updated Statistics for 2012-2016.
[7]
Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026). CPI Inflation Calculator [Interactive Tool]. U.S. Department of Labor.
[8]
Bushnell, R. C., & Barnes, M. E. (2026). Economic Contribution of Hatchery-Reared Walleye Stocked in South Dakota, USA. Modern Economy, 17, 14-25. https://doi.org/10.4236/me.2026.171002
[9]
Caudill, J. (2005). The Economic Effects of Rainbow Trout Stockings by Fish and Wildlife Service Hatcheries in FY 2004. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Economics.
[10]
Caudill, J. (2007). The Economic Impacts of Trout Stocking on Tailwaters in the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partership (SARP). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Economics.
[11]
Charbonneau, J. J., & Caudill, J. (2010). Conserving America’s Fisheries. An Assessment of Economic Contributions from Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Conservation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Economics.
[12]
Chilton, G. (2017). Fish Propagation Annual Report for 2016. Fish Division, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
[13]
Department of Environmental Conservation (2026). DEC Fish Hatcheries. Department of Environmental Conservation. https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/freshwater-fishing/hatcheries
[14]
Evenson, R. E. (2001). Economic Impacts of Agricultural Research and Extension. In B. L. Gardner, & G. C. Rausser (Eds.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics (Vol. 1, pp. 573-628). Elsevier.
[15]
Griliches, Z. (1979). Issues in Assessing the Contribution of Research and Development to Productivity Growth. The Bell Journal of Economics, 10, 92-116. https://doi.org/10.2307/3003321
[16]
Jackson, J. R., Boxrucker, J. C., & Willis, D. W. (2004). Trends in Agency Use of Propagated Fishes as a Management Tool in Inland Fisheries. American Fisheries Symposium, 44, 121-138.
[17]
Johnson, D. M., & Walsh, R. G. (1987). Economic Benefits and Costs of the Fish Stocking Program at Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado. Colorado Water Resources Research Institute.
[18]
Kerr, S. J., & Lasenby, T. A. (2000). Rainbow Trout Stocking in Inland Lakes and Streams: An Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review. Fish and Wildlife Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
[19]
MacCrimmon, H. R. (1971). World Distribution of Rainbow Trout (Salmo gairdneri). Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 28, 663-704. https://doi.org/10.1139/f71-098
[20]
Malik, R. P. S., & Palmeiri, A. (2008). Quantifying Indirect Economic Impacts. In R. Bhatia, R. Cestii, M. Scatasta, & R. P. S. Malik (Eds.), Indirect Economic Impacts of Dams: Case Studies from India, Egypt, and Brazil (pp. 101-124). Academic Foundation.
[21]
Mark Fincel, B. H. (2016). Missouri River Strategic Plans. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks.
[22]
Martling, S., Fletcher, B., & Barnes, M. E. (2020). Economic Impact of Cleghorn Springs State Fish Hatchery, Rapid City, South Dakota, USA. Modern Economy, 11, 1351-1358. https://doi.org/10.4236/me.2020.117096
[23]
Outdoor Industry Association (2018). Outdoor Participation Report.
[24]
Outdoor Industry Association (2019). Special Report on Fishing.
[25]
Salter, A. J., & Martin, B. R. (2001). The Economic Benefits of Publicly Funded Basic Research: A Critical Review. Research Policy, 30, 509-532. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-7333(00)00091-3
[26]
SDGFP (2015). Strategic Plan 2016-2020.
[27]
SDGFP (2019a). Creel Survey Reports.
[28]
SDGFP (2019b). Wildlife and Parks Budget Information. Division of Wildlife Budget Information.
Southwick Associates (2022). Economic Impact of Hunting, Fishing, Trapping, Boating and Wildlife Viewing in South Dakota. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.
[31]
Tourism Economics (2017). Economic Impact of Tourism in South Dakota.
[32]
USDA (2014). 2012 Census of Agriculture (Census of Aquaculture (2013), Volume 3, Part 2).
[33]
USFWS (2001). Economic Effects of Trout Production by National Fish Hatcheries in the Southeast.
[34]
USFWS (2006). Economic Effects of Rainbow Trout Production by the National Fish Hatchery System. USFWS.
[35]
USFWS (2018). 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHW/11-NAT [RV]).
[36]
USFWS (2020). National Fish Hatchery System.
[37]
Williams, D., & Rank, A. D. (1998). Measuring the Economic Benefits of Research and Development: The Current State of the Art. Research Evaluation, 7, 17-30. https://doi.org/10.1093/rev/7.1.17
[38]
Windfeld, E., & Lhermie, G. (2022). The Value of Canadian Agriculture: Direct, Indirect, and Induced Economic Impacts. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6, Article ID: 940968. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.940968