DEC Fish Hatchery System Update

New York Fishing

The goal of the New York’s fish culture program is to operate a modern, efficient system of fish hatcheries and annually produce and stock a variety of disease-free fish. In 2018, DEC raised and stocked 853,000 pounds of fish from the state’s 12 fish hatcheries into approximately 1,200 waters. The number and species of fish stocked in 2018 are listed in the table below. In addition to various sportfish species, DEC raised and stocked lake sturgeon and round whitefish in 2018. These rare species are native to New York State, and an effort is currently underway to restore them to their historic range. Funding made available through Governor Cuomo’s NY Works program enabled the following infrastructure projects at our hatcheries:

• A new alarm system was installed at the Adirondack Hatchery. This system will provide the hatchery with on-site and remote monitoring of water flows, water temperatures, oxygen levels, and power and backup generator status. If any of these parameters fall below specified thresholds alarms will be sent to employees via email, text message, and autodialing systems.
• Multiple repairs were made to several hatchery managers’ residences and a new hatchery residence was constructed at the Adirondack Hatchery. Managers live on-site to provide security and emergency response, and many of the residences have needed rehabilitation or, in some cases, complete replacement.
• A new stationary emergency generator was purchased and installed at the Catskill Hatchery’s manager’s residence. Catskill Hatchery is in a remote area and is prone to periodic power outages.
• A new feed and storage building was constructed at the Bath Hatchery. The construction of the building also included a new loading dock that will be used for fish food deliveries. Fish food can now be delivered and unloaded on pallets which will be more efficient than unloading the feed bags by hand.
• A major rehabilitation of the production ponds at the Catskill Hatchery was completed. This entailed pouring new concrete bottoms and pond walls on many of the ponds that had become cracked and were leaking.
• Paving of roadways and visitor parking areas were completed at Bath, Rome and South Otselic Hatcheries. Existing pavement had become cracked and contained many potholes. The new pavement will make it safer and easier for visitors and employees when traversing the many roadways and parking areas at the three hatcheries.
• Dredging of Scriba Creek above the water intake for the Oneida hatchery was completed. Silt, mud, and debris had accumulated over the years surrounding the water intake, reducing water flow to the hatchery and leading to siltation in hatchery rearing units during high water events. The area above the intake is now clear of all debris and will provide adequate amounts of silt free water for years to come.
• At the Caledonia Hatchery, phase I of a large, multi-faceted infrastructure project was completed. New pipelines and valves were installed to improve water and waste flow from the main hatchery building. New walkways were installed around many of the production ponds and a new two-car garage was built at the manager’s residence. Paving was completed on the visitor parking area and other roadways throughout the hatchery. Restoration of the historic main hatchery building will take place in phase 2.