In The News
Restoration brings salmon, people back to Clear Creek
November 12, 2020 | Brandon Honig
Clear Creek has been transformed multiple times in the past two centuries, but the transformation of the past few decades was designed to last. Ravaged first by gold-seekers and then by gravel-miners, the Sacramento River tributary is today a haven for fish and people alike.
“You get to see big male salmon chasing each other away from females and see females digging redds, or nests. It’s exciting,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Charlie Chamberlain. “It’s something a lot of people would not expect to see in California except on National Geographic.”
Coleman National Fish Hatchery: salmon spawning season
November 6, 2020 | by Mike Mangas
ANDERSON, Calif. — There are still salmon in Battle Creek at the gate to Coleman National Fish Hatchery.
They wait there before going up the fish ladder. Once in, they're spawned, the females drained of eggs, then fertilized with milt from the males.
Project Leader Bret Galyean says they've reached their goal of 12-million eggs—a bit of a surprise. Mature salmon return from the ocean as, mostly, three-year-olds. And, these salmon were released during the drought.
Learn More about Coleman National Fish Hatchery
Four silver carp tagged and released on Mississippi River near La Crosse
October 24, 2020 | Paul A. Smith - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Four silver carp were captured this month in Pool 8 of the Mississippi River near La Crosse.
Rather than kill the destructive invaders, staff with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fitted the fish with acoustic tags and released them back to the river.
On its face, it seems counter to every guidance on aquatic invasive species.
But the action was part of a multi-agency project to monitor the movements of the fish and learn their preferred habitats in the expansive pool.
Ultimately, it is hoped the "Judas" fish will reveal the location of other silver carp and guide netting efforts to remove the undesirable fish before they can strengthen their foothold in the Mississippi River along Wisconsin's western border.
Drought-Stressed Fish in the Colorado River to Benefit from XTO Energy and Other Water Donors
October 2020
PALISADE, CO - Endangered fish relying on flow in the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado, will soon get a welcome boost when additional water in Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt, Colorado, is made available to enhance streamflows during this increasingly concerning drought year.
The Bureau of Reclamation, which owns and manages Ruedi Reservoir, announced the good news on September 19, 2020 that additional water will be made available for endangered fish. This water is the result of collaboration among multiple partners. Foremost among these is XTO Energy (a subsidiary of ExxonMobil), who generously donated 5,000 acre-feet* of water in Ruedi to which they have rights, enabling its release for this purpose. In addition, the Ute Water Conservancy District in Grand Junction, the Colorado River District, and the Town of Palisade have stepped forward and collectively made 3,685 acre-feet of additional Ruedi Reservoir water available for the same need.
Invasive or not?
California/Nevada edition
September 2020
Many invasive species look similar to the local plants and animals that belong in our backyards, deserts, forests and streams. Despite their ability to blend in, invasive species can be destructive to both native plants and animals, and humans.
They are often great adapters, and can outcompete important native species, disrupting ecosystems or causing native or rare species to decline. Conversely, native species help keep our ecosystems healthy and in balance.
Disclaimer: Invasive and non-native species are different concepts. A plant or animal can be non-native in an ecosystem, but not necessarily harmful or invasive. Yet, an invasive species is a non-native that always has a severe impact on the ecosystem it is “invading.”
Casting for Community Connections
How one national fish hatchery became a lifeline during a challenging time.
September 2020
Right now, it is easy to get caught up in everything we can’t do. With safety restrictions in place, many of us miss the yearly milestones that define our summer and autumn months. From fireworks and fairs to concerts and fishing tournaments, we can’t help but yearn for these moments that bring us together.
Communities are rising to the challenge, finding creative and safe ways to connect with one another whether through social media or social distancing. Our national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries have stepped up, as well, providing virtual programming like this live series from John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia or this butterfly walk recorded by staff at Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge in Connecticut. We’ve reached out to visitors through crafts and scavenger hunts, with mindfulness-minute videos and photography contests.
While these creative alternatives have been met with enthusiasm (and we have been more than happy to provide environmental interpretation), we are a fish and wildlife organization. If we can inspire visitors to do only one thing, it’s to head outdoors.
Baker Holden III, deputy project leader, Lodi FWO
September 2020
You’ve worked for the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, and this is your second stint with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Why did you come back?
I like the mission, and I found the culture was welcoming and one I could thrive in. I saw opportunities here because it’s all about what you do and what you can bring as a person. They’re making a big effort to support diversity, talk about it openly and take concrete steps to move forward.
What is special to you about the Service's mission?
People know the Service lists endangered and threatened species, but we also do oil spill response, we manage invasive species, and this is where the national fish hatcheries are held. There’s variety to the mission, and all of it converges around protecting natural resources for future generations.
How did you get interested in becoming a biologist?
I used to go fishing and hunting with my father and uncle when I was growing up in Arkansas, and I’d get a comparative anatomy lesson from my father on the fish and squirrel and rabbit, and also learn the importance of balance: Only take what we need. When I got to college, I had a temporary job with the U.S. Forest Service in Gasquet, California, which was a great experience. I learned something new every day and experienced new things. It was the first time I’d snorkeled and learned how to identify fish and salamanders, the first time I went camping. It had me hooked.
How has your career path influenced your approach as the Lodi FWO’s deputy project leader?
The job I have now was not in my perspective of life opportunities as a teenager. So I’m developing a program to reach out to people about opportunities working in natural resources. We do events locally, where we try to provide individuals a first-time positive experience with natural resource activities, particularly individuals who might not have thought of it as a career option before. One example was a program earlier this year, when our biologists worked with Riverview Middle School students to help them sample river water and conduct measurements and experiments.
What advice do you have for young people starting out in the Service?
Be nice to everyone and treat everyone with respect and dignity. That’s a goal I strive for personally. But the federal service is also more connected than you know, and it comes around. If you have a long career in the federal service, you never know who’s going to be your boss.
Baker Holden III grew up in West Helena, Arkansas, a small town in the heart of Delta Blues country. While earning a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, he worked summers for the U.S. Forest Service on what is now Smith River National Recreation Area. He has since worked in natural resource management at several California sites as well as in New Mexico, Oregon and Washington state. He and his wife, Laura, married in 2002 and have two children, 11-year-old Samara and 6-year-old Graham. Baker is also a singer and “very so-so guitar player” who collects video games and comic books, and enjoys fishing, nature watching and knitting.
Perkinsville Culvert Replacement
August 2020
This time lapse video shows a crew from the US Fish and Wildlife Service installing a pre-fabricated bridge in Perkinsville, VT to restore the free flow of a tributary to the Mill Brook in the Upper Connecticut River basin. The bridge replaces an undersized culvert that blocked fish passage and created an erosion issue. The project also involved the removal of a small dam approximately 200 ft upstream of the bridge site. The project reopens access for brook trout to high quality habitat in cooler tributary streams for spawning and rearing.
Time lapse video compiled by Dave Sagan (NWRS)
Learn more about the National Fish Passage Program
West Fork River Restoration visited by Director Skipwith
August 2020
Service field staff in West Virginia had a chance to show U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Director Aurelia Skipwith some of the great conservation work being accomplished in the state. On August 20, Director Skipwith met with local officials from the Clarksburg Water Board, American Rivers, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, and Service staff from the Appalachian Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and the West Virginia Ecological Services Office to witness the states’ largest river restoration project on the West Fork River. Three dams have been removed and a fourth modified to allow the river to flow freely, returning safe passage to fish and paddlers moving up and down the river. Indeed, fish now have access to 491 miles of mainstem river and its tributaries. More than 61,000 pounds of trash were also removed during the restoration of the river - including 1,212 tires, several televisions, and even a car. And river banks were restored. Put it all together, water quality has improved with reduced water treatment costs, and recreation has increased along the river. Clarksburg Water Board reports a savings of at least $50,000 dollars a year in water treatment costs.
Learn more about the National Fish Passage Program
Director Skipwith visits White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery
August 2020
White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery, West Virginia, welcomed a special guest on Saturday, August 22 – Director Aurelia Skipwith, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Director stopped at the hatchery during her tour of Service facilities in the state. She learned about the important roles that the hatchery and the Service’s National Broodstock Program play in providing disease-free rainbow trout to state and tribal recreational fishing programs across the country. And then she got in the water, assisting staff with spawning some trophy-sized rainbow trout broodstock. She toured the hatchery’s Aquatic Resource and Recovery Center where she saw and heard about our efforts to restore native, threatened, and endangered species of freshwater mussels, candy darters, and crayfish. She also learned about the exciting outdoor activities that the hatchery has to offer to the public. We hope Director Skipwith had as much fun as we did during her visit!
Learn more about White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery
Undaunted: Lake Sturgeon of the Niagara
A multi-perspective account of one of New York’s most resilient fish.
August 4, 2020
Two hundred years ago, when the Tuscarora Nation settled near the Niagara River, lake sturgeon were plentiful.
“Our word for sturgeon is the same word for dandelion,” said Neil Patterson Jr., citizen of the Tuscarora Nation, founder of the Tuscarora Environmental Program (TEP), and assistant director of the Center for Native Peoples & the Environment at SUNY-ESF located on Onondaga Territory (Syracuse, NY). “Dandelion bloom at the same time that sturgeon are present in the river.”
Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Alaska Invasive Species
July 2020 | by Aaron Martin
Alaska is rich with globally renowned freshwater and marine resources that are sought after for a host of cultural, commercial, and recreational purposes. These resources are one of the primary drivers of the state’s economy. For example, watercraft use generates a $587M annual economic impact and one in every nine residents owns a registered watercraft. Furthermore, hydropower delivers over 21% of the energy to urban and remote corners of the state.
Unfortunately, the threat to these native and wild resources from invasive species entering Alaska is persistent, and includes highly invasive species such as quagga and zebra mussels. Alaska is one of only five western states not infested by invasive mussels and an invasion could have significant economic, ecological, and cultural impacts to Alaska’s vibrant salmon and trout fisheries. Recognizing the threat to uninfested western states and provinces, state and federal agencies, tribes, and partners have made unprecedented efforts to contain the spread of invasive mussels in the West. Although the challenge is substantial, it is not insurmountable.
Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office
Despite Pandemic, National Fish Hatcheries Get the Job Done
July 14, 2020
As the country begins to reopen, responsible outdoor recreation is needed to support our nation’s social and economic recoveries. Fishing is one activity that may be enjoyed alone or with others while keeping a responsible social distance apart. It also supports local businesses such as tackle shops, boat rentals, guide services, motels, and local diners and restaurants.
Visiting a National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) facility is an ideal way to spend quality time outdoors because many offer picnic tables, on-site fishing opportunities, walking paths, walking tours, and more. And don’t be surprised if you hear the joyous sounds of small children as they throw fish food into the water and see the fish swim to the surface for their own picnic.
Rare fish brings safe bridges to rural Missouri residents
July 2020 | by Jeff Finley
We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service work to conserve some of the rarest plants and animals in the country. The conservation effort to restore the Niangua darter, an endangered fish found only in central Missouri, has brought safer bridges to rural communities. The story of the Niangua darter demonstrates how the work of the Service’s National Fish Passage Program directly benefits the American public we serve.
The Niangua River winds northward through central Missouri, due south of the Lake of the Ozarks. Swimming along the bottom of the river lives a small fish, aptly named the Niangua darter. Native to the north- flowing tributaries to the Osage River and found nowhere else in the world, the fish is listed as a federally threatened species and as state endangered by Missouri.
Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Scientists work to repopulate lake sturgeons
July 9, 2020
A fish whose ancestors date back at least 200 million years — possibly 300 million — came close to extinction 100 years ago. Lake Erie was once home to more of those fish than all of the other Great Lakes combined.
Today, the lake sturgeon is still listed as a threatened species in Ohio, which means anglers lucky enough to catch one must snap a photo and release it — quick. But a group of scientists plan to spend the next few decades replenishing populations of this ancient fish, particularly in the lake where they were once so plentiful.
Ready to Rock Out
June 30, 2020
The musically talented staff at Makah National Fish Hatchery (WA) performed and recorded a soulful serenade to salmon and steelhead in this must-see music video!
Get Schooled on Fish Culture | The D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives
June 30, 2020
Whether patrons are seeking out a piece of American history, or they’re interested in getting up close and personal with Rainbow Trout, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives in Spearfish has a wide variety of attractions for all.
The hatchery was established in 1896, making it one of the oldest operating hatcheries in the country. “It is a fun, family-friendly learning environment that is free, which is always nice when you’re traveling as a family,” said April Gregory, curator of collections and exhibits.
Albert Spells: Man of faith, champion of fish
June 30, 2020
Albert Spells tells a story about a small stream in Barnwell, South Carolina, that flows through a culvert under Route 278. His brother Carnell and friend Thomas dubbed it The Little Stream. The Little Stream was their favorite fishing hole as young teenagers.
“It wasn’t much of a stream, but it was ‘our stream,’” he said. “We could always catch fish at The Little Stream, and we thoroughly enjoyed fishing there.”
During spring break of his freshman year at South Carolina State College, they went to fish at The Little Stream. They found the stream and its banks filled with trash.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Join Forces to Increase Public Access for Outdoor Recreation
June 30, 2020
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) have reaffirmed an existing relationship that promises to benefit hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts for generations to come. A recently signed agreement builds on past successes between the Service and the USA by creating new volunteer opportunities for skilled union trades workers to engage in infrastructure and access projects on national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries.
The agreement will facilitate volunteer public service opportunities for USA members that will support outdoor recreation, environmental and recreational education and other opportunities on Service-managed lands. It also aligns with the administration’s commitment to maintain and expand recreational access on America’s public lands. Union volunteers will bring on the ground expertise and practical help needed to deliver our promise of access to all Americans.
Genoa NFH Mussel Biologist Earns Region's 2020 Science Excellence Award
June 2020 | BY DOUG ALOISI, GENOA NFH
Megan Bradley of the Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH) recently received high honors for her achievements in furthering Aquatic Species Recovery through her work in freshwater mussel and fisheries science. She recently received the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Interior Region 3 2020 Award for Science Excellence. USFWS Interior Region 3 administers it's programs in the eight Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Continuing aquatic conservation amid coronavirus
June 2020
Caring for millions of fish during the pandemic
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to people’s work and daily life across the United States. As we ensure continued safety at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities and public lands across the county, we also have millions of fish to care for across the National Fish Hatchery System!
Caring for fish is a 24/7 responsibility. Our hardworking staff and partners are rising to the challenge. Together, we are safely carrying out work needed to give anglers fish to catch, support local economies, and continue conservation and restoration efforts.
Dream job
Kayak surveys provide important data for fish habitat on Clear Creek
June 5, 2020 | By John Heil
Imagine taking a kayak out on the water all day as a full-time job. Well, that’s exactly what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees from the Red Bluff office do for a portion of the year.
The work is critical for surveying Clear Creek for the presence of steelhead, rainbow trout and late-fall Chinook salmon nests known as redds.
“We primarily use this information to try and evaluate the effectiveness of our ongoing restoration projects on the creek,” said Ryan Schaefer, fish biologist for the Red Bluff office. “These surveys give us a good idea where the fish are spawning and if they are using the gravel that we’re putting in the creek to increase the available spawning area and hopefully help bolster salmonid populations.
Fish Food for Thought: Scientific Sustenance for Salmon
June 2020
Every day that I walk through the grounds of Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery (NFH), I see our production staff at work, tossing pellets of fish food into the raceways while young fish make the water’s surface boil with action. At other times, I see them pushing brooms slowly down the length of the enclosures, pushing waste to the drain without stirring it up into the water column. Fish production work has, in some ways, remained the same for decades. Fish need to be fed, ponds and raceways cleaned, water temperatures and flow checked and maintained.
But one aspect of hatchery work has changed a lot: fish food!
Taking Back our Waters
May 22, 2020
The Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO) is on the front line of the battle to protect the Great Lakes from invasion by Asian carp, a non-native fish with great potential to harm any ecosystem it invades. The Columbia FWCO serves a pivotal role in implementing the national Control and Management Plan for Asian carps. Bringing the latest science and technology to bear on challenging fisheries management problems is an important part of what FWCOs do. The Columbia FWCO is developing new and innovative approaches to removing Asian carp from the major river systems connected to the Great Lakes. They have developed new tools, such as the “electrified dozer trawl” that is being used to combat infestations of Asian carp in rivers and streams, backwaters and impoundments throughout the Midwest. Situated along the Missouri River in central Missouri, the Columbia FWCO uses these new technologies to find and track Asian carp populations in the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio and Great Lakes basins.
Learn more about the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
Keeping fish stocking on schedule
May 15, 2020
Americans are getting used to things being in short supply. When it comes to fish, however, no need to worry. Our dedicated employees have you covered.
Fishing is one of America’s favorite outdoor activities, ranking near the top in terms of the number of people who participate. One in 7 Americans takes to the water with a rod and a reel to fish, adding $150 billion to local and regional economies every year.
The natural portfolio
Spring-run Chinook salmon - essential to life history diversity
By John Heil/USFWS | May 8, 2020
In northern California, springtime is marked by wildflower blooms, bird migrations, swollen rivers, and the return of the first salmon of the year to the Klamath River – spring-run Chinook salmon.
This genetically-based life history strategy of Chinook salmon is not only critical to the genetic diversity of the species and the economy for fishing, but also provides a vital source of food and other cultural value for indigenous people of the Klamath Basin.
Thousands of rainbow trout stocked at Fort McCoy in time for 2020 fishing season
By Scott Sturkol | May 11, 2020
Approximately 15,000 rainbow trout were stocked at several lakes and ponds April 27-29 at Fort McCoy by workers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Genoa National Fish Hatchery of Genoa, Wis.
USFWS personnel delivered the trout which averaged at least 10 inches, said Fisheries Biologist John Noble with the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch. Trout were stocked in Suukjak Sep, Sandy, Stillwell, and Big Sandy lakes and Sparta and Swamp ponds.
Fish Tales: Fish and Humans Aim for Health at Hatcheries
By Julia Pinnix, Visitors Services Manager, Leavenworth National Fisheries Complex | May 2020
Every now and then, Andy Goodwin, the Pacific Region Fish Health Program Manager for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, sends out a newsletter packed with photos and detailed descriptions about fish diseases.. I spent some time recently going back over some of those newsletters, and was struck by the parallels between how we approach fish health and the precautions we are taking with human health at this time.
Paddlefish Restoration
May 2020
Restoring paddlefish back to their historical range is a team effort between the Oklahoma Department Department of Wildlife Conservation, Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, and researchers at Oklahoma State University.
Jordan River National Fish Hatchery - Hunt/Fish Rule
May 2020
Hunting on Hatchery Lands
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing new hunting opportunities. Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (MI) will be opening 79 acres of hatchery land to hunting. The land is suited for big game, upland game, and game bird hunting. Hunters will need to comply with state of Michigan hunting seasons and regulations.
Creature Comforts – Home School with Us! Learn How to Give Salmon a Home from the Comfort of Yours
USFWS Columbia Pacific Northwest | April 16, 2020
Howdy humans! Does all this time at home have you going a bit stir crazy? Well we Pacific salmon are envious. We spend our entire lives just trying to make it home and we are pretty exhausted by the time we get there. Just like you, we like a nice place to come home to, especially when things are tough out there. And just like you, we need others to help us along the way. Which means this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship! You can help make our migratory mission a bit easier and we can teach you a little bit about going with the flow.