Niagara Springs Hatchery is located in southern Idaho’s Hagerman Valley. hg8868皇冠下载 built the hatchery in 1966 to serve as a rearing facility for steelhead. With a capacity to raise nearly two million steelhead smolts annually, it is one of America’s largest privately-owned steelhead rearing facilities.

In 2013, hg8868皇冠下载 completed a two-year renovation of Niagara Springs Hatchery. The project included construction of a 23,000-square-foot indoor rearing facility, 现代水过滤系统, improved feeding apparatus and predator exclusion equipment.

An observation room allows visitors to get a good look at the operation. 特殊的窗户和现代照明, designed in consultation with University of Idaho experts, mimics natural daylight for the young fish.

以滋养它的泉水命名, 孵化场的水很干净, 清晰和, 最重要的是, warmer than that in which naturally spawned steelhead grow up. This ideal environment allows the fish to achieve the equivalent of two years growth in just one year’s time.

Eggs arrive here each May from adult steelhead spawned by crews at hg8868皇冠下载 hatcheries in the Snake and Salmon river basins. 在第二年的三月, crews begin hauling the year-old fish back to the Snake, 小鲑鱼, 和帕希默罗伊河, where they will begin a journey of more than 500 miles to the Pacific Ocean. The spring fish haul takes about six weeks.

Niagara Springs Hatchery has proven to be a tremendous asset in the rearing of steelhead. 在野外, less than 5% of eggs hatch and become smolts that survive to being the migration to the ocean. 在尼亚加拉泉孵化场, more than 80% of eggs received from Pahsimeroi and Oxbow hatcheries ultimately become fish that embark on their ocean journey.

The hatchery is currently closed to visitors. 了解更多关于孵化场的信息 爱达荷州渔猎局 网站.