TOLM Group Celebrates Ribbon Cutting with AGFC on the $16 Million Renovation of Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery
LONOKE, ARK. — TOLM Group is honored to announce the ribbon cutting of a transformative $16 million renovation of the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery, a nearly century-old landmark in Arkansas’s environmental history. As the construction on this legacy project, TOLM Group is working alongside the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) to deliver a facility that honors the past while investing boldly in the future of fisheries management.
Established in 1928, the hatchery has long served as the backbone of Arkansas’s warmwater fish production and remains the largest warmwater public hatchery of its kind in the U.S. With this modernization, it now stands at the forefront of aquaculture innovation.
“This project represents more than just a renovation — it’s a revitalization of purpose,” said Project Manager, Scott Nielsen, “We are proud to have helped bring new life to a facility that continues to support conservation, education, and economic impact across the state.”
Smart Construction with a Conservation Focus
The TOLM team’s scope of work includes major structural upgrades, improved energy systems, and an industry-leading water reuse system that will conserve an estimated 517 million gallons annually. With 70% of the hatchery’s 200 acres of ponds now capable of water recycling — and 90% of water within the hatchery building being reclaimed — the renovation stands as a model of sustainable resource use.
Innovation Built to Last
From upgraded lighting and temperature systems for optimized fish rearing, to strategic improvements that will enable earlier spawning of Florida largemouth bass — the hatchery now has the tools to support trophy-class fisheries and contribute cutting-edge techniques to statewide lake restoration efforts.
The project also supports AGFC’s broader efforts to renovate key water bodies like Lakes Conway, Monticello, and Wilhelmina, ensuring the hatchery remains essential in the reestablishment of thriving aquatic ecosystems.
Building for Arkansas’s Future
TOLM Group is proud to play a role in preserving and enhancing a facility that has produced over 370 million fish in the last 25 years alone. More than a job site, the Joe Hogan Hatchery is a living legacy — one that reflects Arkansas’s deep-rooted commitment to conservation, recreation, and innovation.
“To build something that impacts both the environment and the everyday lives of Arkansans — that’s what we’re here for,” said General Superintendent Lance Munn. “It’s the kind of project that makes us proud to be water builders.”
