###

12:30 P.M. UPDATE: Locals are circulating an online petition — linked here — to save the Mad River Fish Hatchery, which has gained 650 signatures as of this writing.

“For decades, the hatchery has played a vital role in the conservation of local fish species, bolstered the local economy, and provided an educational resource for our children and future stewards of the environment,” the petition states. “Its closure would not only disrupt these crucial activities but would also significantly impact recreational fishing and local traditions linked to our river heritage.”

###

Original post: After nearly 55 years of rearing federally listed steelhead, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is closing the Mad River Fish Hatchery at the end of next month.

CDFW spokesperson Peter Tira told the Outpost that the aging facility needs more than $30 million in infrastructure upgrades and repairs to remain open, which, given the state’s ongoing budget crisis, just isn’t feasible for the department. 

“We own this facility here and are responsible for maintaining the physical plant, but we’re looking at at least $10 million in immediate repairs … and an additional $30 million to modernize the facility,” Tira said. “It’s really a combination of aging infrastructure and federal constraints on production, which is capped at 150,000 steelhead per year. … It’s just not a viable hatchery operation anymore.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery, which stocks local lakes and lagoons, produces “just a tiny fraction” of steelhead compared to the Trinity River Hatchery, Tira said, which produces 450,000 steelhead and 4.6 million salmon per year. 

“It’s just not enough fish to really meet the goals of a hatchery, which are to support species conservation and to provide recreational sport fishing opportunities,” he continued. “Fishing will remain open on the Mad River, but it just doesn’t make sense to maintain this facility.”

CDFW will keep up the buildings and surrounding grounds after the hatchery closes in June or early July. “We’re going to maintain the same public access to the Mad River that is currently available,” Tira said. “We know it’s a very popular spot locally for fishing, mountain biking, hiking and all that good stuff. That isn’t going to change.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery was forced to close in 2004, also due to a state budget crisis, but the community rallied and the facility reopened in 2005. When asked whether there was any chance the facility could reopen again with enough community support, Tira said that this time the hatchery closure would be permanent.

“It’s really not sustainable,” he continued. “Even if you put all this money into it, we’re limited by the federal government on what we can produce, so it’s not like we could just ramp up production. There’s lots of constraints on this particular species, so it doesn’t make fiscal sense or conservation sense at this point.”

More information can be found in the CDFW press release below.

###

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made the difficult decision to cease hatchery operations at the Mad River Fish Hatchery in Humboldt County.

A combination of increased regulatory burden and a lack of flexibility, aging infrastructure, significant and necessary costly repairs and maintenance, modernization needs, and low fish production and returns forced the decision to close the steelhead trout hatchery just east of Arcata.

“Quite simply, the steelhead program is no longer viable,” said Jason Roberts, Inland Fisheries Program Manager for CDFW’s Northern Region. “The Mad River Fish Hatchery is no longer providing much if any conservation benefit to the species nor the intended recreation or sport fishing benefits in the Mad River. The careful review of these resources indicated they could be better used elsewhere. Our focus now is implementing a transition plan for employees, equipment and resources, repurposing the buildings and making sure the property remains open and accessible for the public to access the Mad River.”

The Mad River Fish Hatchery has been beset by challenges for two decades. In 2004, a state budget crisis forced its closure. The hatchery was able to reopen in 2005 due to community support, but its operations have diminished over time as regulatory demands, operational expenses and infrastructure maintenance needs have increased.

Opened in 1971, the hatchery once raised Chinook salmon, inland salmon and rainbow trout for recreational fishing and steelhead trout to support the native run within the Mad River itself. Over time, all but the steelhead and trout programs have been phased out of hatchery operations.

Today, the Mad River Fish Hatchery is CDFW’s smallest hatchery with three full-time employees, a $730,000 annual budget and a maximum annual steelhead production goal capped by federal fish agencies at 150,000 fish. CDFW’s Trinity River Hatchery by comparison, which also operates a steelhead program to support species conservation and a destination sport fishery, raises and releases about 450,000 steelhead and 4.6 million salmon annually.

CDFW estimates it would need another $1 million annually to continue Mad River Fish Hatchery operations at current levels and likely tens of millions of additional dollars to make needed repairs, modernize the facility for the future and meet federal requirements.

The northern California steelhead found in the Mad River is a federally listed threatened species. As such, the federal government has considerable regulatory authority and oversight of Mad River Fish Hatchery operations, including operational standards that cap production limits in multiple ways and require biological monitoring of impacts to wild populations.

Remaining steelhead in the hatchery will be released into the Mad River in the spring with hatchery operations expected to cease in June.
CDFW plans to maintain a presence at the hatchery facility, repurposing the buildings into offices and continuing to use the workshop. The property will continue to be open from sunrise to sunset to allow public access to the river. The public’s current use of the premises to park and access fishing, hiking, birding and swimming along the Mad River will remain.

The closure of Mad River Fish Hatchery operations will not impact the local stocking of rainbow trout in inland waters for recreational fishing in Humboldt County.

Apart from Mad River, CDFW operates 20 other hatcheries across the state producing millions of fish for conservation and recreation every year. For more information about California’s hatcheries, head to CDFW Fish Hatcheries web page.

###