White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery facts for kids
The White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery is a special place in West Virginia. It's run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This hatchery is in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains along the historic Midland Trail. It started around 1900 to help raise fish for people. Later, it also began working to protect freshwater mussels.
The hatchery's main goal is to provide fun fishing experiences. It also helps bring back fish, mussels, and other wildlife. They want to help everyone appreciate nature. Every year, they send millions of rainbow trout eggs to other hatcheries across the United States. Extra rainbow trout are released into West Virginia's rivers and streams.
In 2016, a big flood hit Greenbrier County, West Virginia, including the hatchery. About 15,000 adult rainbow trout were lost. It took two years for the hatchery to fully recover from the damage.
Protecting Freshwater Mussels
This important program started at the hatchery in 1995. Its goal is to help bring back populations of freshwater mussels. Mussels are like small clams that live in rivers and lakes.
In 2013, the White Sulphur Springs Hatchery teamed up with other groups. They worked to save the endangered purple cat’s paw pearlymussel. This mussel used to live in the Ohio River and its larger streams. It was listed as an endangered species in 1990. Its numbers dropped a lot because of dams, dredging, pollution, and competition from zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are an invasive species that cause problems for native mussels.
Freshwater Folk Festival
The Friends of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery host a fun event every fall. It's called the Freshwater Folk Festival. The first festival was held on October 2, 2004.
This festival is a great day for families. It has music, food, crafts, and lots of ways to learn about nature. It's a chance to celebrate freshwater animals and their habitats.
Annual Fishing Derby
The White Sulphur Springs Annual Fishing Derby is held every year. It takes place on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This event gives families a chance to spend the day fishing for rainbow trout.
The Annual Fishing Derby has been happening for over 20 years. The White Sulphur Springs Rotary Club helps host it. In 2024, more than 300 children came to enjoy the fishing fun!
