March 7, 2025 3:40 a.m. 

The public is invited to learn about a proposal to maintain hatchery production in the Umpqua Basin by making investments at Rock Creek Hatchery and in the South Umpqua.

An Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife release said the proposal is based on information gathered over the past year from ODFW’s review of the state hatchery system, including Rock Creek Hatchery, as well as feedback from stakeholder groups and the public, conversation with local groups and consultation with the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Under this draft proposal, ODFW would:

*Invest some of the insurance funds from the Archie Creek Fire at Rock Creek Fish Hatchery to maintain the existing spring Chinook program

*ODFW would also partner with CCBUTI to invest remaining insurance funding and, potentially, Federal Emergency Management Agency funding at a facility in the South Umpqua to rear the winter steelhead and coho programs

*The fall Chinook program would continue to be reared at the Gardiner-Reedsport STEP facility and Elk River Hatchery

ODFW is hosting a March 11th town hall to share the concept for this state-Tribal partnership and will be joined by CCBUTI to answer questions and get feedback. The meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Community Conference Hall at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Since 2020, wildfires that damaged Rock Creek Hatchery and other facilities, ODFW has maintained Umpqua Basin production by raising hatchery fish at both Cole Rivers and Elk River hatcheries and returning them to the Umpqua Basin for acclimation before release. The proposed partnership would return production to the basin.

ODFW will also discuss key findings from the state’s hatchery assessment, the challenges of Rock Creek after the fire and how this partnership could present a unique opportunity for the entire southwest fishery system.