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.
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.)
