U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery

Station Facts ■ Established: 1965. Frequently Asked Questions: Do you have any fish for breeding? Where ■ Number of staff: permanent. five do you get the fish? Greers Ferry does not have any adult trout Geographic Area Covered for breeding purposes. The hatchery receives fertilized eggs from Federal ■ Arkansas: White River and broodstock hatcheries such as Erwin Ouachita River Basins. National Fish Hatchery in Erwin, Tennessee. photo: USFWS photo: ■ Oklahoma: Illinois River and Red River Basins. Where are the fish stocked? How often?The Economic Impact of Trout Program trout are stocked in public fishing waters in ■ Annual economic impact of trout Arkansas and Oklahoma which are suitable production at Greers Ferry NFH for trout. Trout are stocked year-round. In $36.8 million. (2017 economic data) the summer, the Little Red River adjacent to the hatchery is stocked with more than Station Goals 180,000 eleven inch rainbow trout. ■ Provide rainbow trout and brook trout for recreation (mitigation) Will trout live in a small pond? for COE dam tailwaters in Trout require cold oxygen-rich water, photo: USFWS photo: Arkansas. usually less than 65°F. In the Southeast, farm ponds get too warm for trout in the ■ Cooperatively participate in summer months. Rivers and tailwaters aquatic threatened/endangered below Corps of Engineers and TVA dams or “species of concern” restoration are more suitable habitat for rainbow and and recovery. brook trout. ■ Provide rainbow trout trout for recreation (mitigation) for Corps of Engineers dam tailwaters in Why do we need federal hatcheries and who Oklahoma. pays for them? ■ Connect People with Nature. Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery is a federal fish hatchery which is supported by photo: USFWS photo: tax dollars. Fish raised on Federal hatcheries Fish Species and Capability are stocked in public waters to support ■ Rainbow trout (mitigation) Federal fishery responsibilities. These 670,000 fish/195,000 lbs. include fish for restoration where, for example, man-made dams have altered a ■ Brook trout (mitigation) 17,000 stream’s natural reproductive capability; or fish/5,000 lbs. to restore threatened or endangered populations. Fish are also used to support Public Use Opportunities recreational fishing programs in Federal and state waters. ■ More than 50,000 visitors annually. ■ Trout fishing in the Little Red River photo: USFWS photo: adjacent to hatchery grounds. Is the hatchery open every day? What hours? It there a charge? ■ Camping at the U.S. Army Corps of The hatchery is open every day except on Sherri Shoults, Hatchery Manager Engineers JFK Park on the Little Red Greers Ferry NFH the Federal Holidays for Thanksgiving and River. Christmas. The visiting hours are 7 am-3 349 Hatchery Road ■ pm. There is no charge to visit the hatchery. Heber Springs, AR 72543 Self Guided hatchery tours Phone: 501/362 3615 Fax: 501/362 4007

August 2018