About Us

Williams Creek hatchery initially supplied fish primarily for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. Within the next 20 years, the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, and some Arizona state waters received fish distributions as well. The Alchesay hatchery was authorized in 1959 as trout distribution expanded to more reservations and tribes. Initial production of rainbow, brook, and brown trout at this facility began in 1963. Alchesay NFH was designed to fulfill a federal responsibility for stocking waters on Indian lands throughout eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

Currently, Alchesay NFH stocks 17 different Indian reservations/pueblos including: four different Apache reservations (White Mountain, Jicarilla, San Carlos, and Mescalero), eleven New Mexico Pueblos (Acoma, Isleta, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay Owingeh, Picuris, Sandia, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Zia, and Zuni), the Navajo Nation in both Arizona and New Mexico, and the Hopi reservation. The demand for hatchery trout for public fishing waters usually far exceeds the supply. Fish produced at National Fish Hatcheries are allocated to areas where the greatest public benefit will be realized.