Welcome
Little White Salmon
National Fish Hatchery Complex
56961 State Route 14
Cook, WA 98605
509-538-2755
Manager - Speros Doulos
Directions
Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery is located 12.5 miles
east of Stevenson, Washington, on State Highway 14. The mile-long
entrance road begins at the west end of the bridge over the Little
White Salmon River at Drano Lake. The hatchery is open daily
from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Adult spring chinook salmon return in
May and June, Up-river fall chinook and coho salmon return in
late-September through early November. Spawning occurs in mid-July
through mid-August and late October through mid-November.
Hatchery
History
The Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery was a pioneer in the fledgling
science of salmon propagation when it began rearing salmon in 1896. During the
past 100 years, the facilities and the propagation methods have changed dramatically
and research is on-going. Today, more than 9.4 million young salmon are released
into the river or transferred to other sites for release each year. The Little
White Salmon River provides the cold, clean source of river water in which salmon
are incubated and raised for 6 to 18 months.
Spring and Up-river bright fall chinook salmon and coho salmon produced at the
Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery contribute significantly the salmon
harvested by sport fishers in the Columbia River, particularly in Drano Lake.
An underwater viewing area, and wildlife viewing opportunities make the hatchery
a favorite for visitors year-round. Chinook and coho can be seen spawning in
the river below the hatchery, particularly in the fall.
The Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery Complex is funded almost
entirely by the National Marine Fisheries Service through authority of the Mitchell
Act. Additional funds are received from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
(operations and cyclical maintenance), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (off-site
feed for fish reared for John Day Mitigation Program), and from the Bonneville
Power Administration (operational costs for rearing fish as part of the Umatilla
Basin Fisheries Program.)
