Entiat National Fish Hatchery is located in the Entiat River Valley, not far from Wenatchee, Washington. When we were built in 1940, we served as a research facility to learn more about fish health. Our hatchery currently raises summer Chinook salmon.
A smiling man in shorts and ballcap kneels at the edge of a river with a huge summer chinook salmon held out to the camera.
Fish Runs Announcement

Our fish ladder is open for the season! Approximately 3,200 adult summer Chinook salmon have returned to Entiat National Fish Hatchery as of Tuesday August 23, 2022.

About Us

A black and white photo of Entiat National Fish Hatchery from a nearby hillside, showing a view of dry mountains with scattered pine trees in the background, a new orchard planted in the foreground, and the hatchery building flanked on two sides by long oval ponds, with a line of 4 white hatchery houses overlooking them.
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Entiat National Fish Hatchery was built on 37 acres of land by the Bureau of Reclamation as one of the fish mitigation facilities for Grand Coulee Dam, Columbia Basin Project. We've been in operation since 1941.The initial operating plan for the hatchery called for adult salmon and steelhead to be trapped at Rock Island Dam and hauled to the hatchery for holding and spawning. From 1979 to 2008 our program focused on spring Chinook salmon, and since 2008 we've been raising summer Chinook salmon. Strong salmon returns to our hatchery in recent years have provided new summer Chinook fishing opportunities on the Entiat River. 

What We Do

A young woman wearing a blue T-shirt with the leaf-insignia of the Student Conservation Association holds a huge summer Chinook salmon.
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Currently, we raise and release up to 400,000 summer Chinook salmon every year. Our fish complete a 490 mile journey and pass through eight dams during their life. Twice! 

Of the hundreds of thousands of smolts we release each year, some 2,000 adults will find their way back to their "home" here at the hatchery. Many more are harvested in commercial, sport, and Tribal fisheries from the Entiat River to Southeast Alaska. Adult salmon that we don't need for spawning in the fall are harvested by Native American tribes that have been impacted by Grand Coulee Dam. 

Looking for fish run information? Or weather data? Visit our What We Do page.

Our Species

Visit Us

Hatchery sign next to entrance road and buildings in background
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How to Find Us

Our hatchery is six miles up the Entiat River Valley. From Entiat River Road, turn left onto Roaring Creek Road and then right on to Fish Hatchery Road. Drive past the hatchery sign and park to the left of the gate, outside the fence. Check our outdoor kiosk for information or take a stroll on the Red Willow Trail along the Entiat River.

Tour the Hatchery

Visitors are welcome to tour our hatchery! During the summer our hatchery hosts may be available to share information. Information, maps, and a self-guided tour brochure of the hatchery grounds can be found year-round at the kiosk on the lawn in front of the hatchery building.

Latest News

A calm river with trees on both sides and a mountain and blue skies in the distance.
Our People
New Complex Manager at Leavenworth Fisheries Complex
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has selected Bill Gale as Complex Manager at the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex in Leavenworth, Wash. Gale has worked in the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Pacific Region program since 2001.
Drawing of a brown duck with a green patch above its eye sitting in greenish water.
Get Involved
Washington Junior Duck Stamp Program
Do you love conservation and want to know how to help? Consider participating in the annual Junior Duck Stamp competition!
A young woman in glasses holds a slide up to look at it in an attic storage space.
History and Culture
Preserving History
Piles and boxes and file cabinets overflowing with historic photos and documents. What's to be done to save our history?
A man with a large tribal tattoo on his right upper arm reaches into a fishing hoop net, his face hidden by a large straw hat.
Our Partners
Salmon for Tribal Trust
Working with tribes to support fish populations reminds us that tradition and values play a role in how we operate. Millions of salmon and steelhead from Leavenworth Fisheries Complex hatcheries support the cultural, economic, and recreational values that shape our Pacific Northwest way of life.
Two girls pose with two big trout in front of a pond where other children are fishing.
Recreation
Special Fishing Events
In a world where virtual activities claim an awful lot of attention, still nothing beats a wriggling, live, slimy, glittering fish on the end of a line.
A man in waders and sunglasses holds up a large salmon horizontally with both hands.
Our People
Boosting Salmon in the Columbia
Sometimes the world seems mighty big. What can one or two people really do to make an impact? In the case of Entiat National Fish Hatchery (NFH), create the best summer Chinook fishery in the Columbia River basin.
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Location and Contact Information