March 10, 2025 3:40 a.m.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners are encouraging residents to attend and participate in a town hall meeting regarding the future of the Rock Creek Fish Hatchery on Tuesday, March 11th at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Building of the fairgrounds.

A county government post said representatives from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as the commissioners, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, State Senator David Brock Smith and State Representative Virgil Osborne will be available to discuss the future of the hatchery. The public will have an opportunity to comment.

The hatchery burned in the 2020 Archie Creek Fire

Rock Creek Hatchery was originally constructed in 1925 and is one of the oldest continuously operating fish hatcheries in Oregon. It is the progeny of North Umpqua River hatchery operations, dating to before 1900. This location sits across the river from the first trout hatchery built in this section of the North Umpqua River in 1920.

For more information on the meeting, call 440-4201.