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As most people who follow the Norfork National Fish Hatchery know, the fall of 2025 has been a dreary time. The hatchery experienced a period of exceedingly high mortality due to poor water quality. In an effort to save as many of the remaining fish as possible, trout were stocked or relocated to Jim Hinkle State Fish Hatchery ran by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Thus, very few fish were left on station going into the end of the year. These losses, paired with the detrimental flooding at Jim Hinkle State Fish Hatchery back in the spring, leave a huge hurdle to climb for stocking in 2026.
When unfortunate occurrences like this take place, it makes cooperation between other USFWS stations and the state agencies we work with very important. Luckily, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery, as well as Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery have been right there to help navigate the path ahead. One example of this is the transfer of rainbow trout from Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery to Norfork National Fish Hatchery. During the last week of November and the first week of December, over 120,000 ~9.5” rainbow trout were moved to Norfork. Several Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hatcheries assisted with the transfer, which was a huge help. The fish were originally slated to be grown out in net pens in Lake Ouachita and later stocked in Ouachita and Little Missouri River Tailwaters. They will now be raised at Norfork and stocked in the White River below both Beaver and Bull Shoals Dams, as well as the tailwaters of the North Fork River below Norfork Dam. This ensures at least some degree of stocking while Norfork gets back on track. Mammoth Springs National Fish Hatchery will also be raising rainbow trout to help mitigate some of the mortality. There have also been ideas and discussions regarding how to combat fall water quality issues in the future. Hopefully, a big step forward is taken this year in that regard.It has been a real example of "life giving you lemons" this fall, but with the personable employees across this field, good communication, and a lot of cooperation, there’s still lemonade to be made.
P.S. For those of us at Norfork National Fish Hatchery, we greatly appreciate the help from everyone involved. If any of you happen to be reading this, here’s a big “Thank You” from all of us!
