Winner of 75th Anniversary Federal Duck Stamp Contest Named

Established: 1903. This fish hatchery is one of the oldest, built in the Ozark foothills in northeast Arkansas due to the availability of cool gravity flow water from the world’s seventh largest spring and easy access to the railroad. Current programs involve the restoration of interjurisdictional fishes (paddlefish and sturgeon); recovery of endangered and threatened species including freshwater mussels; restoration of Gulf Coast Striped Bass populations; restoration of walleye, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout in the White River drainage; and fishery management and stocking recreational fish on national wildlife refuges. Physical plant includes: 36 acres, 15 production ponds, eight concrete raceways, hatching/rearing building, 3,600 gallon public aquarium, administrative offices and maintenance buildings. Due to the reliable high quality gravity flow water supply and a unique pond and raceway rearing system, the hatchery has the capability to produce a wide variety of fish and other aquatic species. The hatchery maintains the only captive spawning population of Gulf Coast striped bass in the world.