Clearwater Fish Hatchery located west of the bridge across the North Fork of the Clearwater at Ahsahka and its satellite facilities comprise the largest fish hatchery complex constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Lower Snake River Compensation Plan. The main hatchery was completed in 1991.

The Lower Snake River Compensation Plan is a federal mitigation program to provide for fish losses caused by the construction of the four lower Snake River dams. The Idaho Department of Fish and Games operates the hatchery with funding provided through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Lower Snake River Compensation Plan office.

The main hatchery receives its water through a uniquely designed pipeline. Two pipelines pass through 25 feet of solid concrete in the middle of Dworshak Dam. The water carried 1.8 miles downstream where energy is dissipated through a hydroelectric plant. Water then continues through the two separate pipelines delivering water to two different temperatures to the rearing facility. The water continues through the two pipelines with water of two different temperatures to the rearing facility. The two separate temperatures allow the Clearwater Hatchery to raise spring chinook salmon and summer steelhead trout at optimum rearing temperatures.

The main hatchery consists of two incubation facilities, 24 outdoor raceways for steelhead rearing, 11 outdoor raceways for chinook rearing, an adult holding and spawning area, residences for permanent employees and an administration building and dormitory.

To learn more about the hatchery and its satellites see their page: https://idfg.idaho.gov/visit/hatchery/clearwater.

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