Hatchery Review: Pacific Region Hatchery Review Team Summary Overview

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a series of hatchery reviews in May 2005 to assure that its hatchery programs in the Pacific Northwest are part of a scientifically-sound and integrated strategy - consistent with State, Tribal, and other Federal strategies - for conserving wild stocks and managing fisheries in watersheds within the Region. The reviews examined 53 hatchery programs at 24 federally-owned hatcheries in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. All Hatchery Reviews were completed in January 2011.

In 2010, the Hatchery Review Team issued this report that summarized the history, results, and conclusions of the review process.

Publication date
Type of document
Report
Facility
Adult Chinook Salmon swimming in McAllister Springs in WA State
Welcome to Carson National Fish Hatchery! Constructed in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corp, we raise and release 1.52 million spring Chinook salmon each year to mitigate fishery losses due to hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River. Furthermore, we belong to a Complex of hatcheries along the...
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery on the Clearwater, sunset after a storm.
Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is located at the confluence of the North Fork and mainstem Clearwater River, 3 miles west of Orofino, Idaho. The hatchery was constructed by the Corps of Engineers in the late 1960's to mitigate for the loss of Steelhead Trout in the North Fork of the Clearwater...
A man in waders and sunglasses holds up a large salmon horizontally with both hands.
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.
Three adult Coho Salmon swimming in Silver Springs, WA State
Eagle Creek National Fish Hatchery raises approximately 850,000 coho salmon annually. The hatchery releases 350,000 coho on site, while 500,000 coho are transferred to the Yakama Nation to support coho restoration projects in their watersheds. The coho program operates as a segregated harvest...
Adult Chinook Salmon
Nestled within a deep corner of north Central Idaho, Kooskia raises and releases 600,000 spring Chinook salmon every year into the Clearwater River Basin. In 2007, the certification of the Snake River Basin Adjudication settlement included transfer of hatchery management to the Nez Perce Tribe.
Hatchery staff rinse off iodine used to sterilize female Chinook salmon before removing eggs
Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery is headquarters for the Leavenworth Fisheries Complex. When built in 1940, it was the largest fish hatchery in the world! Currently, we raise 1.2 million spring Chinook salmon each year. The hatchery is also home to the Mid-Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation...
Adult Chinook Salmon
Welcome to the Little White Salmon Fish Hatchery! Founded in 1898, it is the oldest Columbia River hatchery and a pioneer of salmon propagation. We raise and release roughly 5.5 million young spring and up-river bright fall Chinook salmon each year; in addition we collect eggs for other facilities...
Adult Chinook salmon swimming in McAllister Springs in Washington State
Since 1871 the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country, the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and tribes to...
Tule Fall Chinook salmon
Welcome to Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery! We raise 12.5 million young Tule Fall Chinook salmon each year, making a significant contribution to the ocean harvest and an extremely popular sport fishery at the mouth of the Columbia River. We also mitigate fishery losses due to hydroelectric...
Coho Salmon eggs incubating and hatching at Quilcene NFH in WA State.
Since 1871 the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country, the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and tribes to...
Three adult Coho Salmon swimming in Silver Springs, WA State
Since 1871 the National Fish Hatchery system has been at work improving recreational fishing and restoring aquatic species that are in decline, at risk, and are important to the health of our aquatic systems. Across the country, the network of National Fish Hatcheries work with states and tribes to...
Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery
Since time immemorial the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon have derived their physical and emotional sustenance from the region's land, water, fish, game, berries, and roots. The Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery releases approximately 750,000 spring Chinook salmon (...
Little White Salmon River
Willard National Fish Hatchery is among a network of hatcheries in the Columbia Basin that were constructed to ensure the continued survival of salmon and steelhead runs. This hatchery was opened in 1953 to compensate for the loss of upstream habitat due to hydroelectric projects. Willard is a...
Program
A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
Healthy fisheries and waters are the foundation of America’s outdoor traditions and give us the freedom to fish, boat, and enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation. The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work with states, tribes, and communities to provide a comprehensive approach to freshwater...
Species
A huge school of silver fishes swimming in a stream

ESA (NMFS) status: threatened (June 1997 - southern OR/northern CA population)

Coho salmon are a species of Pacific salmon which inhabit the Pacific coast in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska.  These fish are also known as silver salmon...

FWS Focus
Steelhead are usually dark olive in color, shading to silvery white on the underside with a heavily speckled body and a pink-to-red stripe running along their sides.

Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) belong to the family Salmonidae which includes all salmon, trout, and chars. Steelhead are similar to some Pacific salmon in their life cycle and ecological requirements. They are born in fresh water streams, where they spend their first 1-3 years of life....

FWS Focus
Subject tags
Anadromous fish
Biologists (USFWS)
Conservation science
Fish hatcheries
Fisheries
Fisheries management
FWS and DOI Region(s)