Following the discovery of whirling disease at the hatchery in 1995, Leadville fish are now stocked in lower elevation waters where they can contribute to recreational fishing and not contribute to the further spread of whirling disease in more pristine, higher altitude native trout habitat.

Since the hatchery took 2 of its lakes out of production, the level of whirling disease contamination has dramatically gone down at Leadville National Fish Hatchery.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recently completed an Environmental Assessment on operations at Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and is currently developing plans to clean-up the hatchery. After clean-up, only clean (whirling disease negative) fish will be produced. At that point, Leadville will once again stock Fryingpan-Arkansas waters.