White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility located along the historic Midland Trail in the Allegheny Highlands of southeast West Virginia. It was established in 1900 to produce fish for the American Public. This fish hatchery became part of the National Broodstock Program in 1976. Since then, hatchery personnel have been working to ship millions of disease-free rainbow trout eggs to hatcheries across the country.
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Mission
The Mission of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery is working with the community and our partners to be good stewards of both the environment and historical significance of White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery by providing recreational fishing opportunities, recovering fish, mussels and other wildlife and their habitats, and promoting awareness and appreciation of our cultural and natural resources for the benefit of all people.
Freshwater Mussel Conservation
Added to the hatchery in 1995, this program works toward the restoration of freshwater mussel populations destroyed by a hazardous substance release that occurred on the Ohio River near Marietta, Ohio. The spill killed an estimated 1,000,000 freshwater mussels. Today, White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery provides shelter for mussels threatened by pollution and raises baby mussels to improve wild populations.
Freshwater Folk Festival
The Freshwater Folk Festival is hosted by the Friends of the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery and falls on the first Saturday of October every year. The first annual festival began October 2 of 2004, is a family-friendly day of music, food, crafts and educational opportunities. The festival's mission is to promote understanding, appreciation, and conservation of freshwater resources; and to celebrate the local natural history and culture of White Sulphur Springs and Greenbrier County.
Annual Fishing Derby
The White Sulphur Springs Annual Fishing Derby falls on every Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. It provides outdoor experience and an opportunity for children and their families to spend the day fishing for rainbow trout. The Annual Fishing Derby has been an annual event at the hatchery for over 20 years and is co-hosted by the White Sulphur Springs Rotary Club.