DFG News Archive

DFG Signs Agreement to Reopen Mad River Hatchery

SACRAMENTO - California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Director Ryan Broddrick today announced a public-private partnership with the Friends of the Mad River Fish Hatchery Board, a Humboldt County non-profit organization, to provide funding to reopen the Mad River Fish Hatchery at Blue Lake. A memorandum of agreement memorializing the partnership was signed this week.

“I am truly impressed with the phenomenal effort put forth by the local communities to make this partnership a reality,” Broddrick said. “Our agreement allows the community to support a facility that provides significant economic, educational and recreational benefits, and it provides future angling opportunities for those who enjoy fishing in one of the most beautiful places in California.”

Under the agreement, the Friends of the Mad River Fish Hatchery will provide funding for the steelhead trout hatchery through a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation. The group also will provide volunteers and additional resources necessary to operate and maintain the hatchery. The Friends of the Mad River Fish Hatchery will assure the DFG by the beginning of each December that a sufficient amount of money has been raised to produce a minimum of 150,000 yearling steelhead before spawning any fish that year.

DFG will assign a full time fisheries employee to oversee day-to-day operations of the hatchery. This person will be based on-site and will train and supervise volunteers, and respond to emergencies. DFG also will provide additional staff to assist during peak activity periods, such as fish spawning.

“I want to be able to take my children fishing in Mad River for the next 20 years, and the cooperation of the past year between DFG and our community, I believe, will allow us all to do that,” said Dave Varshock, president of the Friends of the Mad River Fish Hatchery Board. “The economic consequences of not operating this hatchery would be too much for this community to bear. Everyone realized that, and it was very impressive how hard both sides worked to make this happen.”

Last week, the DFG finalized a similar agreement with the Hot Creek Hatchery Foundation, which will help maintain and improve operations at the Hot Creek Hatchery in Mono County.

For more information on DFG’s hatchery program go to: www.dfg.ca.gov/lands/fish1.html.