U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Dworshak Fisheries Complex Dworshak National Fish Hatchery Idaho Fishery Resource Office Idaho Fish Health Center Kooskia National Fish Hatchery When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe. John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra, June 1911 Spring Chinook salmon sac fry, one week old. USFWS Dworshak Located within the Clearwater River Hatchery Operations Fisheries Complex basin in north-central Idaho, the Dworshak hatchery raises cold-water Dworshak Fisheries Complex consists fish species: Clearwater River ‘B’ of Dworshak and Kooskia National run steelhead, spring Chinook and Fish Hatcheries, the Idaho Fishery coho salmon, and rainbow trout. Resource Office, and the Idaho Fish The hatchery is one of the world’s Health Center. largest combination producers of anadromous fish, meaning they Dworshak National Fish Hatchery hatch in freshwater, spend one to (NFH) is funded by the Army Corps four years in the ocean as adults, and of Engineers and co-managed by the then return to their freshwater birth U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and streams to spawn. All salmon and the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho. Both most steelhead die naturally Dworshak and Kooskia hatcheries after spawning. work together closely to ensure the return of salmon and steelhead Dworshak National Fish Hatchery from the Pacific Ocean to the is unique in that water temperatures Clearwater River. for steelhead-rearing ponds can be Dworshak controlled through recirculation and National Fish Dworshak NFH is located at the filtration similar to an aquarium. Hatchery confluence of the North Fork and Steelhead and lies below the main Clearwater River, just Chinook smolts Depending on the time of year, Dworshak Dam. below Dworshak Dam. The dam are released in April. hatchery water can either be heated blocked migrating steelhead and or chilled to the proper temperature salmon from reaching their natural for each fish species. Water flows spawning grounds on the North through biological filtration beds Fork of the Clearwater River, and where bacteria convert wastes into its height made it impossible to harmless by-products before the construct a fish ladder. water reaches settling ponds and, eventually, the river. Dwoshak NFH helps continue Steelhead are raised for the return of one year in water at or near salmon and 50° F to achieve optimum steelhead from health and quality prior the Pacific Ocean to their spring release at to the Clearwater a size of about 8 inches. River. The hatchery strives for ©2007 Kim Glennon increased growth rates in fish All hatchery ponds during the fall, which decreases the are protected from need for using heated recycled water predatory birds by wire netting. in the winter when fish are more susceptible to infections. Chinook and coho salmon are raised in much colder water — 38-44˚ F — for up to 18 months prior to release. Susan Sawyer/USFWS Fishing for steelhead below Dworshak Steelhead smolts hatchery on the main in Burrows pond. ACOE/Walla Walla District Clearwater River. ©2007 Kim Glennon Idaho Fishery The Fishery Resource Office (FRO) Idaho Fish The Fish Health Center (FHC) was Resource Office is located at Dworshak National Health Center originally built in 1969 as part of Fish Hatchery. Established in Dworshak National Fish Hatchery. 1981, the FRO provides evaluation The FHC provides fish health and fish management planning services within Idaho, eastern for the three federal hatcheries Washington, and eastern Oregon. in Idaho: Dworshak, Kooskia, and Federally-funded National Fish Hagerman National Fish Hatchery. Hatcheries within Idaho, as well as FRO staff assesses how each of private fish growers, receive health these hatcheries is meeting their diagnostic and inspection services established mitigation goals. from the FHC. In addition, the FHC works in cooperation with other The primary goal of the FRO federal, state, and Tribal agencies to is to assist in management and survey, sample, and analyze hatchery evaluation of fishery resources that and wild fish populations. relate to federal issues, such as: ©2007 Kim Glennon ■ Fishery resources of Lab staff monitor hatchery steelhead Along with the Tribes, the FHC national significance coordinates with federal agencies ■ for health issues. Fishery mitigation for regarding involvement with species federal projects listed under the Endangered Species ■ Assistance to Native Act. Fish Health Center staff are American Tribes active participants in committees and ■ Other fishery projects as technical groups that govern policy called for under federal law and develop recommendations Activities under this goal support on salmon and steelhead in the protection, restoration and Pacific Northwest. Susan Sawyer/USFWS Susan Sawyer/USFWS Biologists check enhancement of anadromous Staff also conduct young steelhead fishery resources in the Lower wild fish health and salmon Snake River Basin. surveys in area for implanted tags The FRO also helps set up rivers. The FHC lab cultures fish prior to hatchery and design studies to evaluate parasites and bacteria to release. determine disease treatments. hatchery effectiveness and various management scenarios. This involves working with state, Tribal, and federal fishery offices to evaluate fish management programs throughout Idaho. Unidentified parasites (myxosporea sp.) in fish gills. Ken Peters/USFWS Biologists sample wild fish populations in area rivers. USFWS Laura Kessel/USFWS Kooskia National Kooskia National Fish Hatchery Information Dworshak’s Information/ Fish Hatchery is located 35 miles upriver from and Education Education program provides Dworshak National Fish Hatchery, comprehensive visitor services, at the mouth of Clear Creek on the education, and year-round public Clearwater River. The hatchery was outreach programs at hatcheries built in 1969 to enhance sport and and in local communities throughout Tribal fishing and to mitigate spring Idaho and eastern Washington. Chinook salmon losses resulting from water development projects in the Program goals include: Columbia River Basin. ■ Increasing visibility of hatcheries ■ Providing information about Kooskia NFH became part of the hatchery programs and services Dworshak National Fish Hatchery ■ Developing effective public The hatchery is Complex in 1978. As a result of the awareness and educational activities 2 miles east of 2007 Snake River Basin Adjudication, ■ Promoting the region’s fish and Kooskia on Toll the Nez Perce Tribe will assume wildlife resources Road. Visitors are management of the hatchery from ■ Fostering support and welcome from the USFWS in the near future. 8am - 3pm daily. understanding of Fish and Wildlife Existing goals for Chinook salmon Service activities production and coho acclimation will remain the same. Outreach goals are achieved through a variety of activities, including Adult spring guided tours, school programs, Chinook salmon information booths return to the Kooskia and presentations, NFH fish trap in and youth fishing May and June, and days. Information/ are transported to Education staff Dworshak NFH for partner with federal, late August spawning. Fertilized eggs Tribal, and state are returned in the fall for hatching, agencies, nonprofits, rearing, and release 18 months later. and special interest Abundant clean water from Clear groups to provide Creek and several deep wells is quality programs. critical to the fish production cycle. Raceway water can be recycled and heated during the winter months, helping to conserve the limited groundwater supply. A self-guided tour is available Hands-on outdoor around the hatchery, along with lessons provide informational brochures. A short, education and fun easy foot path is across from the for area students. hatchery entrance. The trail tells the story of Chief Looking Glass Nez Perce Tribal staff and his people during the war of manage fish production 1877. An observation deck offers at Kooskia hatchery. views of waterfowl and resident Students raise wildlife. steelhead and release them in the Clearwater River each spring. Susan Sawyer/USFWS Susan Sawyer/USFWS All: ©Aron Jackson/McSorley Elementary School Hatchery Life of Marked for Life. In early Steelhead and Salmon summer, young fish, Dworshak Fisheries Complex called parr, are moved to produces steelhead, spring outside rearing ponds. In Chinook salmon, coho the fall, they are fin-clipped salmon, and rainbow trout. or marked in the automated trailer. These marks Life Ends, Life Begins. Ripe are visible on adult Parr adult fish return to the hatchery fish, indicating ©Aron Jackson where they are euthanized they were raised in so that eggs and milt can a hatchery. be collected and mixed for fertilization. Mature female On Their Way. Each spring, juvenile steelhead produce an average fish or smolts are released into the of 6,500 eggs, while Chinook Clearwater River to begin their and coho females average downstream migration to the about 3,000. ocean. To aid the fish in their journey, dams on The fertilized eggs are then the lower Snake and incubated for one to three Columbia rivers often months until they reach the release water to increase “eyed” stage, when black river flows. Fish passage centers eyespots are visible. Eggs are at the dams can collect and transport then sorted, counted, and moved the smolts downstream for release to the larger nursery tanks. below Bonneville Dam on the Lower Columbia River. Smolt ©Sheri Erickson First Food. Steelhead and salmon fry hatch with yolk Coming Home. Adult fish enter Egg sacs attached, providing their the hatchery by a fish ladder or jar gate into a holding pond. Adult steelhead only source of food for the ©Andrew S. Nisbet first few weeks. Once the yolk The fish are 3 to 5 years is absorbed, the fry are fed old and weigh from 12 six to eight times daily for to 20 pounds. several months. Spawning Season. Steelhead return to Dworshak and Kooskia hatcheries between October and May and are spawned from January through April. Chinook salmon return from May to August and are spawned from late August to early September. The Nez Perce Tribe collects and spawns coho salmon from Sac fry BPA October to November.