CarsonNational Fish Hatchery

Station Facts

Total FY 2014 budget = $677,000Originally built by the CivilianConservation Corps in 1938Located in the Gifford PinchotNational Forest on the Wind RiverActive Information and EducationProgram including volunteerprogram through Hatchery Hosts5 full-time employeesLocated in WA CongressionalDistrict 3

Contact InformationStation Manager: Larry Zeigenfuss

Phone: 509/427-5905

Fax: 509/427-4238

Email: larry_zeigenfuss@fws.gov

Web: http://www.fws.gov/gorgefish/

Directions:

We are located 12 miles north ofCarson. 14041 Wind River Highway,Carson WA

Who We AreThe National Fish Hatchery System(NFHS) is comprised of a network of 71National Fish Hatcheries which propagateimperiled species for restoration andrecovery programs, provide emergencyrefugia for species whose habitat isthreatened, provide fish to benefit Tribes,and mitigate for federal water projects.

How We HelpCarson National Fish Hatchery produces1.47 million spring Chinook smolts annually,including 250,000 smolts for tribal efforts torestore salmon to the Walla Walla Riverbasin. The hatchery helps mitigate for fishlosses in the Columbia River basin due to theimpacts of main stem hydropower,and contributes to important tribalceremonial/subsistence fisheries as well asnon-tribal sport fisheries.

Tribal Trust ResponsibilitiesSpring Chinook are produced to assistwith tribal restoration efforts in the WallaWalla River Basin. This program hasthe goal of producing a naturally spawning,self-sustaining population of spring Chinooksalmon.

Water safety

Carson NFH Cycle of Life Smolts are released into the WindSpring:

River in April. The holding ponds arecleaned and the fish ladder is opened. Adultsreturn to the hatchery in May and June.

: Adults are sorted and spawned. SummerFertilized eggs are taken to the hatcherybuilding to incubate. Spawned adults aresampled for diseases and coded wire tags arerecovered. Summer is the best time to cometo the hatchery to see adult fish.

: Eggs are selected, counted and treatedFallto prevent diseases. The eggs hatch inOctober after two months of incubation. Theprevious year's fry are marked and tagged.

: The fry are transfered from theWinterhatchery building to the outdoor racewaysafter they have absorbed their yolk and areeating artificial feed. Snow is plowed andhot chocolate is consumed.

Collecting eggs from Chinook female

Cheri Anderson, USFWS

Larry Zeigenfuss, USFWS

Cheri Anderson, USFWS

Larry Zeigenfuss, USFWS