The Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery is a 35-acre U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Congress authorized our hatchery in 1906 and in 1909 it was constructed to produce brook trout, char and Atlantic salmon for stocking the waters of Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire. Over one hundred years later, we are still rearing landlocked Atlantic salmon for anglers to the Lake Champlain basin and Lake Ontario. We are also rearing lake trout for the recreational fishery in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain and raising brook trout for Vermont’s anglers.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) NOTICE

Although most refuge and hatchery lands and outdoor spaces have remained open for the public to enjoy, we ask that you recreate responsibly.

  • Check the refuge or hatchery website and call ahead for current information. Operations vary based on local public health conditions.
  • The CDC recommends all individuals wear a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high transmission. Recognizing that most of the United States is currently in substantial or high transmission categories and to best protect visitors and our staff, we’ve implemented a nationwide mask requirement. Masks are now required inside all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service buildings, regardless of vaccination status or location. All people, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask on all forms of public transportation and in healthcare settings on DOI lands.
  • Most importantly, stay home if you feel sick and continue to watch for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow CDC guidance on how to protect yourself and others.

Visit Us

A curved road in a forested area with picnic benches adjacent to it.
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The view from Dwight D Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery. USFWS

Our hatchery is open to visitors to enjoy the grounds, and view our fish. Visitors are welcome year round from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Take a nice drive to the Green Mountains of Vermont and see thousands of fish, feed the large salmon in our display pool, and enjoy learning!  

If you are planning on visiting us, check out the weather forecast for our area.

We can provide formalized work-training credit for high school and college students enrolled in the biological sciences or natural resources programs, through your given institution. Learn about youth employment and internships with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The hatchery also participates in the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's "Trout in the Classroom" program. Visit their website for information on how you can bring trout into your classroom.

We also assist the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in hosting an annual "Science at the Hatchery" day. For information on future Science at the Hatchery events, please contact Nanci McGuire at nanci.mcguire@vt.nacdnet.net or (802) 775-8034 (extension 4).

Location and Contact Information

      Tours

      A group of kids looking at fish inside a hatchery building.
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      A fun and educational visit to Dwight D Eisenhower! USFWS

      We love having visitors! Youth groups, school and homeschool groups are encouraged to visit the hatchery for a guided tour. To schedule a field trip, please contact the hatchery at (802) 483-6618.

      Our Organization

      Juvenile Northern Pike in aquarium at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, South Dakota
      The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program leads aquatic conservation efforts for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We are committed to tackling the nation’s highest priority aquatic conservation and recreational challenges to conserve, restore, and enhance fisheries for future generations.
      Program
      Falls Church,VA

      Our Species

      Our hatchery raises landlocked salmon, lake trout, and brook trout.

      Juvenile Atlantic salmon in Scatter Creek, Washington
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      Juvenile atlantic salmon in Scatter Creek, Washington.

      Projects and Research

      Landlocked salmon in a culture tank
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      Landlocked salmon at the Dwight D Eisenhower Hatchery

      We have raised landlocked Atlantic salmon for the Lake Champlain Restoration Program since 1980. The species was extirpated from Lake Champlain around the turn of the century due to the construction of dams which cut off fish from their spawning grounds; siltation and pollution from agriculture and urban growth also played a role in degrading available spawning habitat which further limited...

      Landlocked salmon at the Dwight D Eisenhower Hatchery