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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Return to Iron River National Fish Hatchery

About Us

Updated May 6, 2026

 

Iron River National Fish Hatchery was established in 1979 to produce lake trout for interagency restoration programs in the upper Great Lakes and to serve as a lake trout broodstock facility. Currently, the hatchery produces eggs for the National Broodstock Program, rears lake trout and brook trout for interagency restoration programs in lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior and supplies fish and eggs for research and tribal programs. We also manage a program to isolate future lake trout and brook trout broodstock through collection of gametes from wild populations located in Lake Superior and Lewis Lake in Yellowstone National Park. 

Our History

1979 - The hatchery was established.

1984 - First fish stocked from hatchery.

1996 - Expanded broodstock program to include coaster brook trout.

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