Hatchery plans multi-million renovation Expansion would relocate turtles and meet fly-fishing demands
By Marjorie Gursky	write the author
October 02, 2008 | 11:25 AM The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery has begun making plans for a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation to meet its educational needs and fly-fishing sport demands on Long Island. While Hatchery Director Norm Soule said that the staff and board have been discussing for several years the idea of renovating the space, they only recently had preliminary plans drawn up. Those were officially unveiled at the 125th anniversary gala last month. Soule said that plans are in the early stages but already include the addition of a new building for classrooms and extra bathrooms, a picnic and seasonal educational pavilion, solar paneled-covers for the six trout ponds to deter birds and store energy, and the relocation of turtles and warm water animals to a more accessible exhibit spot for easier viewing by visitors. Soule expects the proposal to cost "in the millions" but seems confident that they would be able to find the money through "gifts, grants, and foundations and maybe we'll be able to pull money out of New York State." One board member, he said, has already shown interest in donating the building. While the cost of the proposal is high, Educational Assistant Diane Lundergaard said, "We're just keeping up with the times and refurbishing here and there." Soule, who has been with the hatchery for 29 years, said the plans are contingent upon land boundary negotiations with its neighbor, St. John's Church, as well as the CSH Laboratory from whom they lease the land. One reason for negotiating with neighbors: the hatchery is already partly using property belonging to the church and additional building, as proposed, would reside on even more of the that land. Soule said the church was not happy with the plan because it might cause problems with parking and traffic in the area. But Trudy Calabrese, who is the vestry and in charge of buildings and grounds at St. John's Church, said the property boundary issues do not represent a problem for the hatchery's proposed renovations. "We have a very friendly relationship with the fish hatchery. There are not any boundary problems," Calabrese said. The parking situation for the hatchery and the church is already complicated by ambiguous boundaries. Soule said that the current parking lot is not within the hatchery's limits, they are always able " to work with the church to accommodate each other's parking needs." For instance, they tell one another when each is having a big event, such as a wedding at the church or a fair at the hatchery, and they try not to double book. Lundergaard added, "Everything we do is to find a balance between all parties." Soule said, "We're looking to improve the place and expand educational programs but without overdeveloping it. No building will be more than two stories." In addition, the hatchery is proposing that the wooded area east of the facility — also church property — be used for a nature trail. After the talks are complete, architects will design the structures, which are only roughly drawn, and the proper permits will be attained from the Village of Laurel Hollow, Soule said. At that point, they can get estimates from contractors and start working more ardently on funding, he added. Even though it may take years for all of their plans to come to fruition, Soule said, " the picnic pavilion/seasonal education pavilion will be going up ASAP – as soon as we find money, it is going up." The pavilion would measure approximately 20 by 30 feet right next to the reflecting pond where they already hold pond-life educational programs including the study of invertebrates, dragon flies and other insects. Lundergaard said, "One of our strong points is the educational aspect," and the hatchery wants to expand to accommodate bigger school groups. Right now, the hatchery, which has the largest collection of freshwater fish, reptiles and amphibians in the state, entertains about 400 school groups a year, Soule said. "If we had some space to keep them for awhile, there would be less impact on other visitors," Lundergaard added. In addition to the proposed building being used for classroom space and extra bathrooms, Soule said it could also be conceivably used for a wet lab, live exhibits and a kitchen, which would come in handy for birthday parties and the spring and fall fairs they hold each year. As the public becomes more aware of the environment, Lundergaard said, they expect more visitors. She explained how keeping open space areas and natural habitats for aquatic animals are important to Long Island's well-water supply. "If we put concrete and tarmac everywhere, it reduces the amount of water that can seep down to lower aquifers, she said. Soule agreed, noting the need for public education about the importance of conserving open space and thus the need to refurbish the hatchery, "Unless they get it on the Discovery Channel, people are so disconnected with nature." In addition to educating the public, the hatchery is also concerned with helping to maintain the sport of fly-fishing by breeding trout and supplying the fish to programs at Caleb Smith State Park. "Fly-fishing has deep roots on Long Island. It goes back to 1870 There is an interest to maintain the sport on Long Island," Lundergaard said. Stocking up on trout Until recently, the Connetquot Hatchery has breeded trout for fly-fishing in the Connetequot River, Hatchery Director Norm Soule explained. However, a disease among the fish at that hatchery recently caused the state to shut it down. The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, he said, aims to fulfill the needs of the sport by growing more trout for the Connetquot River fly-fishing programs. To that end the hatchery would have to relocate its turtles to another part of the facility so there would be more room to breed the additional fish. The relocation is something Soule has wanted to do anyway, with his aim of creating an exhibit that would make it easier to view the turtles and warm water animals.