Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery

Giving Nature a Helping Hand Since 1896

Welcome

Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery Complex
56961 State Route 14
Cook, WA 98605
509-538-2755
Columbia River Gorge NFH Complex Manager - Speros Doulos
Little White Salmon NFH Manager - Casey Risley

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.

Today...
Spring, Up-river bright, tule fall Chinook 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.

Reimbursable funds from other agencies accounted for a majority of the operational budget at the Little White Salmon/Willard National Fish Hatchery Complex with most of these funds (46.3% in fiscal year 2009) coming from NOAA - Fisheries Mitchell Act appropriation. These funds reimburse the operating agencies (in this case the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) for fish production to mitigate for fish losses associated with the operation of hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River. Remaining reimbursable funds are for fish reared for specific programs such at the Bonneville Power Administration reimbursed Mid-Columbia Coho Reintroduction (Wenatchee Basin) Project (cost share with Mitchell Act), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers John Day mitigation program, and the Grant County PUD-funded White River Recovery program. Additional funds were received from the Service's deferred maintenance account to help correct maintenance deficiencies at both Little White and Willard NFH.

Learn More About Us...

	For the most current fish return information visit the Fish Passage Center website. Visit our FaceBook page to see what is happening at the hatchery!

	Visiting the Hatchery 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.

	Fishing Information Adult fish returning to Drano Lake, an impoundment at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River, are the perfect example of a successful mitigation program. Learn more about this important fishery.

	Fishing Platforms Tribal fishermen have the right to fish in their usual and accustomed places as provided by the Treaty of 1855. Drano Lake is one of those areas. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has a tribal trust responsibility at Little White Salmon NFH and this Drano Lake platform fishery is an appropriate use of Service-owned land. The consistently strong returns of Chinook salmon to the hatchery provide plenty of harvestable fish for all users in this shared fishery.

	Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex To capture efficiencies and achieve aquatic conservation four hatcheries were reorganized during the past year into a multi-hatchery complex.The Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex includes the Carson, Little White Salmon, Spring Creek and Willard National Fish Hatcheries. The new organization accomplishes the production of over 20 million spring Chinook, fall Chinook and Coho salmon through the sharing of staff and resources to meet the Service's Fisheries mitigation, restoration and tribal trust responsibilities.