New Manager at Sawtooth Hatchery

Cassie Sundquist holds a 6.5 foot sturgeon she caught on The Snake River during an IDFG fisheries project in 2011.
At left is Brett Bowersox, iDFG Fisheries Biologist from the Clearwater Region 2 office in Lewiston. 

The Sawtooth Hatchery will soon have a new Manager. IDFG Assistant Chief of Fisheries Paul Kline announced August 28 that Cassie Sundquist has accepted a promotion from Clearwater Fish Hatchery Manager I to the Fish Hatchery Manager II position at Sawtooth Hatchery.  She will begin in her new position at Sawtooth Hatchery September 15. 

Brent Snider has served as Sawtooth Hatchery Manager since 1994. He will become Manager of the McCall Fish Hatchery, also on September 15.

Brent Snider enjoying a successful day at the trap.

“I am very excited to start this new position. I began my career with the department the day after I graduated from high school at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery. I consider Brent Snider as a mentor. He was the one who first hired me on with the department and gave me every opportunity to gain experience as he could while working at Sawtooth,” Cassie said.

“I spent two summer seasons at Sawtooth on my summer breaks from college and returned after I graduated from college for an 8 month stint as a Fisheries Technician. I fell in love with the beauty of the area and the recreational opportunities that it offers. I have worked very hard to get to where I am today and I feel so blessed to have been offered the opportunity to follow in Brent's footsteps,” Cassie explained.

Cassie and her husband Bryce Sundquist have two young sons, Gage 5 and Grayson 2. Gage will be starting Kindergarten this year. They both grew up in Emmett Idaho and spent the last 8 years in Ahsahka, Idaho, at the Clearwater Fish Hatchery.

Asst. Chief of Fisheries Kline noted, “While working toward her B.S. in Fishery Resources from the University of Idaho, Cassie worked for the Department in a number of temporary positions, including stints with the Sawtooth Hatchery, McCall Fisheries Management, and Nampa Fisheries Research.  She attained a fulltime position as a Fish Culturist at Clearwater Hatchery, and advanced at that station through the Hatchery Assistant Manager and Manager I positions.  Cassie managed the Clearwater Hatchery for the past three years.

Brent Snider began his IDFG career as a seasonal in 1983. He went full time in 1991. Brent worked at the Magic Valley, McCall, Oxbow and Cabinet Gorge Hatchery facilities prior to becoming Sawtooth Hatchery Manager in May 1994.

Thanks for your 19 years of Dedicated Service to the Sawtooth Hatchey and The Stanley Community, Brent!