The Uvalde National Fish Hatchery has decided to continue to use the hatchery road connecting FM 481 to U.S. Highway 90 as a service road without public access. The road bisects the hatchery ponds, and provides access to the ponds, new headquarters, bird blinds, and other facilities. The road was never a public thoroughfare, and non-hatchery traffic has not been allowed since pipeline construction began July 2001. It then remained closed for several major building developments.
The option of only using the road as a service road with a locked gate will fully meet the hatcherys needs of increasing the safety of hatchery staff and visitors, providing greater security for the facilities, and aiding in maintaining the asphalt paving.
"Keeping the road free from through traffic will keep staff and visitors safer," said the hatchery manager Jae Ahn. "We run our heavy equipment along that road. Visitors walk the road to birdwatch. Restricting traffic has become primarily a safety issue."
-http://southwest.fws.gov-
