Fish Research Hatchery
Hours:
-
Tours:
- Guided tours
- Self-guided tours
Address:
4936 W County Rd 52 E
Bellvue, CO 80512
United States
Fish Research Hatchery
Hours:
-
Tours:
- Guided tours
- Self-guided tours
Address:
4936 W County Rd 52 E
Bellvue, CO 80512
United States
Video: "Saving Colorado's Boreal Toads" - CPW
Research Facility
Fish Research Hatchery
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Fish Research Hatchery is located a few miles west of Fort Collins, in Bellvue. Over the years, the hatchery has contributed to a wide spectrum of aquatic research from fish nutrition and salmonid broodstock development to boreal toad production.
Aquatic Research
What We Do
The Hatchery Research team conducts scientific investigations to develop the necessary knowledge, techniques and procedures to effectively manage Colorado's aquatic wildlife.
The Fish Research Hatchery hatches and rears greenback cutthroat brood stock for the Poudre Rearing Unit. Greenback cutthroat trout are listed as threatened on the state list. CPW's recovery plan for the species requires a certain number of fish each year for recovery projects and recreational stocking. On an annual basis, the hatchery produces approximately 10,000 potential greenback cutthroat brooders.
Along with CPW researchers and biologists, the Fish Research Hatchery is spawning Roan Creek Cutthroat trout in the wild. Eggs gathered in the wild are brought to the hatchery where technicians can keep families separated until the genetics of each family is determined. The hatchery only transfers the purest strain of Roan Creek fish to the Glenwood Springs Fish Hatchery. Those fish then become the new generation of brood stock, helping to continue the unique lineage of cutthroat trout in Colorado.
The Fish Research Hatchery produces, cultures and maintains Hofer brood and Harrison Lake brood rainbow trout. Research has shown that these specific sub-species are more resistant to the parasite that causes whirling disease than other sub-species of rainbow trout. The results from this research have now been integrated into Colorado's hatchery system where Hofer strains are being produced for stocking throughout Colorado.
Along with CPW researchers, the hatchery has been conducting experiments designed to optimize rainbow trout production in state hatcheries.
Experiments are being conducted to compare rainbow trout reared on rainbow troutfeeds produced by different manufacturers to determine if there is a feed that is not only cost-effective, but also increases the health, appearance, and post-stocking survival of, and angler preference for, rainbow trout produced in Colorado’s hatcheries. Reduced mortality in the hatchery results in higher numbers of fish produced by the hatchery system, an increased ability to meet biologists' fish requests and, ultimately, provide more fish for Colorado anglers.
Previous experiments have focused on:
- The susceptibility of different rainbow trout strains to formalin, used to treat fungal infections in eggs and external parasites in fingerlings
- The effects of hatchery rearing practices, such as rearing density, water flows, and crowding on sensitivity to formalin in rainbow trout fingerlings
- Critical dissolved oxygen tolerances of rainbow trout
The results collected from these experiments will be used to reduce mortality of rainbow trout under culture conditions.
Meet the Team
Brad Neuschwanger
- Fish Research Hatchery Manager
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- 970-482-1141
- [email protected]
Tracy Davis
- Fish Research Hatchery Technician
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- 970-482-1141
- [email protected]
Andrew Perkins
- Fish Research Hatchery Technician
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- 970-482-1141
- [email protected]