About 450,000 fish perished at two hatcheries in Oregon, USA and nearly 1.2 million chinook, steelhead and trout were released into the McKenzie River as wildfires approached and freshwater to the facility was cut off.

Unprecedented wildfires raged through Oregon reaching some hatchery facilities affecting critical infrastructure and fish. Rock Creek Hatchery on the North Umpqua River sustaining the most severe damage followed by Klamath, Leaburg and Minto. Other hatcheries that were evacuated during Oregon’s unprecedented wildfires include the Clackamas Hatchery (Estacada), which is threatened by the Riverside Fire, but the fire has not reached the facility yet and so no structures are damaged.

With the permission of authorities managing fires, some ODFW staff have been returning periodically to even Level 3 evacuation areas on a limited basis to keep fish at the hatchery alive (by assuring that water is flowing, feeding fish, controlling debris, fueling generators, etc.

“Despite the unprecedented wildfires and evacuation of six ODFW-managed hatcheries, millions of fish at these facilities remain alive with hatchery staff returning as they are able to care for fish and even spawn spring Chinook during a critical time,” said Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife that operate 33 hatcheries of chinook, steelhead and trout around Oregon.