  
Record Salmon Run

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A Non-Profit
Corporation
Established by
the Kiwanis Club of Smith River
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FREE TOURS DAILY
Click here
for a cyber tour
9:00am to 4:00pm -
weekdays
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IT WAS ONLY A DREAM
In 1968 the 15-member Kiwanis Club of Smith
River decided to sponsor
the construction and operation of a fish hatchery to increase and
perpetuate
the native runs of Steelhead and Chinook salmon in the Smith River.
This
was not an easy task, as no one individual or group had ever tried this
type of undertaking. Therefore, there were absolutely no guidelines to
follow. |
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The Forks
Smith River
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FAMOUS FISHING STREAM
The Smith River, long noted for it's huge
Steelhead
(up to 25 lbs.) and Chinook
salmon (up to 65 lbs.) is the third
largest stream in California,
A major route for migrating
adult fish to reach their
spawning grounds |

Andrew Van Scoyk, Hatchery Manager
with 23lb. Steelhead - 2006
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1964 FLOODS DISASTROUS
The tremendous floods in 1964 eradicated
much of the spawning population
and decimated native spawning grounds. This disaster also led to a
rapid
decline in the fish runs, hence the need for a hatchery to restock the
Smith River and it's tributaries, became necessary. |
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SPECIAL LEGISLATION PASSED
In 1970, after what seemed like an
insurmountable amount of
RED tape,
the state finally passed
unprecedented legislation granting the Kiwanis Club of Smith
River
a permit to build and operate
the first
privately owned fish hatchery in the state. |
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Rowdy
Creek Fish Hatchery
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Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery is
in operation 365 days each year. Numerous
school children visit the hatchery and several of the local schools
have
developed classroom incubation programs. This technology allows each
student
a hands-on opportunity to experience the wonder of nature. You will
find
fish at the hatchery during the entire year, during the spawning season
the activity is greatly increased. |
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Spawning
Season
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CHINOOK:
(King Salmon)
The fall spawning season of adult Chinook,
usaually November and
December, is charged with excitement and biological interest. Spawning
usually takes place on Monday and Thursday mornings. Both the fish trap
and the fish ladder are checked and the adult fish are transported to
the
holding ponds. Females in one pond and males in another. Each new fish,
as well as those in the holding ponds, are checked for readiness to
spawn.
The "green" (not ready to spawn) females are returned to the holding
ponds.
Each adult female will yield approximately 3500 eggs. |
Bill
Nunley, fish technician with 53lb. Chinook salmon -- 2006
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STEELHEAD:
Adipose Clip
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Steelhead,
unlike the salmon, usually
return in the Spring months of January through March. Also, unlike the
salmon, Steelhead do not necessarily die after spawning. They may
return
to spawn several subsequent years. Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery raises
over
100,000 Steelhead each year. While the majority of returning fish are
either
native fish or
"Rowdy Creek" fish, occasionally fish from
other areas will migrate
into Rowdy Creek. When a returning adult fish has no visible
clip-markings,
the scale-sample when viewed under a microscope, can determine whether
or not the fish was raised in a hatchery or developed in the wild. All
the data on spawned fish is kept at the hatchery and this information
is
compared with previous spawning years. |
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DONATIONS BUILD AND
SUPPORT HATCHERY
The Rowdy Creek Fish hatchery was built
entirely with donated funds,
labor and materials. The property was donated and the hatchery sets at
the confluence of Dominie and Rowdy Creek. The California Department of
Fish and Game provides technical support.
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The hatchery is
located at, 255 N. Fred Haight Dr. near
the post office, in the historic town of Smith River. The town is
located
only eight miles south of the Oregon border and 13 miles north of
Crescent
City, Situated adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 101, the hatchery site lies three
miles east of the mouth of the Smith River. |
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ECOLOGICAL
PROJECT SPARKS INTEREST NATIONWIDE
This is one of the
largest non-profit ecological projects ever
undertaken on the west coast and we continually need your
help. It
costs 17 cents to raise a fingerling compared to 55 cents for a
yearling,
but we feel the extra expense of raising a fish at the hatchery is
justified
by the higher survival rate of these larger fish. This, of course,
requires
additional money for fish food. Fish
food is our single largest
expense incurred at the hatchery
PROGRESS
DEPENDS ON YOU
Rowdy
Creek Fish Hatchery is moving ahead, but construction projects,
maintenance, grounds keeping and general operations depend on your
generousity
in contributions. All donations are tax deductible.
The year 2006 set a new
hatchery record for returning adult Salmon
and Steelhead.
Broken again in 2009/10 for Chinook Salmon
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2009/10
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2006
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2005
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Chinook
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2775
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579
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383
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spawned
females
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37
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41
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68
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Steelhead
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2,231
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564
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spawned
females
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51
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59
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$40.00 will raise
approximately 50 yearlings
$80.00 will raise approximately 100 yearlings
$750.00 will put 1000 Steelhead or Chinook
salmon yearlings
back into the Smith River and it's
tributaries.
Smith River is the last free
flowing river in California.
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ROWDY
CREEK FISH HATCHERY
(255 N. Fred Haight Dr.)
PO BOX 328
SMITH RIVER, CA 95567-0328
Tele: (707) 487-3443
Fax: (707) 487-4133
Andrew Van Scoyk, Hatchery Manager
email = Andy@RowdyCreek.com
Judy A. Smith, Business Manager
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