We are winding down our summer long celebration of the 150th anniversary of the National Fish Hatchery System. As part of our celebration, we’ve created a series of road trip blogs that crisscross the country highlighting national fish hatcheries that are more than 100 years old!
Join us the next two weeks for Road Trip Tuesday as we take you on the Great American Hatchery Road Trip!
This week we’re visiting Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery in Washington.
Established in 1901, Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery annually raises 12.5 million Tule Fall Chinook salmon to fulfill Tribal Trust responsibilities and support the commercial fishing industry. The hatchery is funded by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and part of the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex. Pro tip: The best time to visit the hatchery is late-August through September when the adult salmon are returning!
The National Fish Hatchery System has been improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species since 1872 (uhhhh, yeah that makes them 150 years old!) and yet, lots of folks might not even know that their grounds are often open to the public and entry is FREE! The wonderful thing about fish hatcheries is that they offer something for everyone in your group…no more disgruntled sighs from the backseat!
