Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit |
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| General information | |
| Address | 22605 CR 287 |
| Town or city | Nathrop, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 38°42′44″N 106°14′07″W / 38.712194°N 106.235361°W |
| Inaugurated | 1950 |
The Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit is a special place in Colorado where fish are raised. It's like a nursery for fish! This facility is run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It's located near the Arkansas River and Chalk Creek in Chaffee County, Colorado.
The people who work here help raise about 700,000 rainbow trout every year. These trout are usually ten inches long, which is a good size for fishing. Once they are big enough, these fish are released into rivers and lakes. They are stocked in many places across Colorado, from Loveland all the way to the New Mexico border. They also go to areas almost as far east as the Kansas border. This helps make sure there are plenty of fish for people who enjoy fishing.
How Chalk Cliffs Started
The Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit first opened its doors in 1950. It has been helping to raise fish for over 70 years!
In 1986, something sad happened. Many young trout at the facility became sick and died. People thought it might be because of the water from the creek. Experts from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment checked the water. They found that it had too much zinc and cadmium. These metals came from an old mine called the Mary Murphy Mine, which was upstream.
In 1990, people tried to clean up Chalk Creek. This was important because the pollution was harming the fish and making the water in the Arkansas River dirty. Even with their efforts, it was very hard to completely clean up the creek.
Why is Chalk Cliffs Important?
A big part of what the staff at Chalk Cliffs does is teach people. They want everyone to learn about fish and nature.
The facility provides fish for many different areas. This helps support fishing as a fun outdoor activity. The Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit also offers special learning materials. You can even take tours to see how they raise the fish! It's a great way to learn about wildlife and conservation.
What Kinds of Fish Live Here?
The Chalk Cliffs Rearing Unit mainly raises two types of trout. They raise rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. These are popular fish for anglers (people who fish). The facility gets its fresh water from a nearby creek. This clean water is very important for the health and growth of the young fish.
