Built in 1941, the Crystal River Hatchery is primarily a brood fish or egg production unit recognized for its high quality eggs and the unique time of year (fall/winter) when trout eggs are spawned and incubated. Each year the hatchery ships about 10 million live trout eggs to other hatcheries in Colorado. Some eggs are traded with other states to maintain healthy genetic diversity. Crystal River Hatchery also raises fish to replenish its broodstock (fish used to produce and fertilize eggs) and to support a statewide stocking program. Anglers certainly welcome a Crystal River fish truck on release days!