The Mt. Shavano Hatchery is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife cold-water fish hatchery situated near Arkansas River headwaters at the base of Big Baldy Mountain in Chaffee County. This facility is renowned as one of the largest trout units in the state.[1]
| Mt. Shavano Hatchery | |
|---|---|
  Location in Colorado  Location in United States | |
| General information | |
| Address | 7725 CR 154 |
| Town or city | Salida, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38°32′41.94″N 106°1′11.35″W / 38.5449833°N 106.0198194°W |
| Inaugurated | 1956 |
| Website | |
| https://www.facebook.com/MtShavanoHatchery/ | |
History
editMt. Shavano Hatchery, inaugurated in 1956, had its origins as a privately owned facility. Originally, it consisted of a frame building housing 10 pools, utilizing springs that provided a flow of approximately 200 gallons per minute. However, due to a decline in the water table, the owner ceased fish farming operations. It is speculated that the original hatchery was Frantzhurst Rainbow Trout Company, situated along Fountain Creek. Subsequently, in 1956, the state acquired this facility and renamed it Mount Shavano Hatchery and Rearing Unit.[2][3]
Fish species
editHatchery staff works to support the raising of 420,000 Whirling Disease negative catchable trout and about 2.6 million subcatchable trout and kokanee salmon annually. The species raised at the unit include Rainbow trout, Snake River cutthroat, cutthroat/rainbow crosses (cutbow), and kokanee salmon. These fish are nurtured using water sourced from a groundwater spring.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Fish Hatcheries". cpw.state.co.us. Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ Wiltzius, William. "Fish Culture and Stocking in Colorado, 1872-1978" (PDF). Native Fish Lab. Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ Kirk, Alexander (October 23, 2023). "Here's why a dam will be removed from a Colorado river starting Monday". 9 News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ McGovern, Maura (January 18, 2011). "Water Quality Control Vision Fact Sheet" (PDF). Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division: 1–24. Retrieved April 30, 2019.[permanent dead link]