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Rock Climbing and Fish Hatcheries

Original Post
Patrick Pharo · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2003 · Points: 30

If anyone has an example of a climbing area in close proximity to a State of US Fish & Wildlife hatchery, please share it.

Rifle Mountain Park is just upstream from Colorado's Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery.

Any other locations that people know about???

Thanks

Ike Rushmoore · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

There's a fish hatchery at the mouth of tensleep canyon just up stream from the campground.
Why the query?

Fliers · · Clarksville, Tennesse · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 50

Looking Glass in North Carolina outside of the town of Brevard. You drive right past one. Last time I was there climbing I hooked a 20" brown and rainbow, and a 12" or so brookie all on the same day in the same river(Davidson). Plus there are white squirrels running around in that area for an added bonus. If you are looking for Colorado only spot... sorry! Also, no hatchery, but up north in Linville Gorge they have great climbing and the river through the gorge is stocked with trout, no where near as easy access though.

Patrick Pharo · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2003 · Points: 30

The staff at the hatchery below Rifle maintains that climbing and hatchery operations are incompatible. Thanks for the examples that disprove that notion.

More are certainly welcome, and thanks for the responses.

Chris Re · · Boise, ID · Joined Apr 2003 · Points: 15

Leavenworth ?

Nick Votto · · CO, CT, IT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 320

The only way I could see them having a problem is if the climbers were polluting the water....I can't imagine that's happening at any of these places (I hope)....are they giving reasons?
Can't think of any New England ones that fit the bill...

Tucker Watson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 0

I have no clue who runs it, but there is a fishery in Mammoth Lakes Ca. Mammoth is north of Bishop and south of Yosemite.

EricF · · San Francisco · Joined May 2012 · Points: 120

Tetons, Jackson National FIsh hatchery is right there in the valley, I believe it's actually in the Elk Preserve which is kind of interesting, amazing fishing there as well people fly from all over the world to fish those streams and rivers.

Tom-onator · · trollfreesociety · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 790
Patrick Pharo wrote:The staff at the hatchery below Rifle maintains that climbing and hatchery operations are incompatible.
Well duhh, everybody knows this!
Ever try putting a harness on a fish?
Slippery little bastards...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=wRD4o…
Any specific reasons quoted by them?
Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65

Not sure how close the climbing areas are as I am not familiar with the local crags but there's a huge hatchery in the Columbia River Gorge outside of Portland, Oregon. There's definitely also climbing and hiking in the area.

"Bonneville Hatchery is Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s largest hatchery facility and has a diverse fish production program."

Fan Zhang · · Colorado · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,704

The Front Royal Fish Hatchery Station (Warren County, VA) is near Buzzard Rocks and Talking Headwall, two local crags collectively known as Elizabeth Furnace. It's off VA Route 678, between Strasburg and Front Royal, VA.

Rob DeBruyn · · Burlington, VT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 55

There is the fish hatchery in Ten Sleep, on the dirt road that hosts many free campsites used by climbers.

Steven Groetken · · Durango, CO · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 390

There's a CPW hatchery in Durango. There's quite a bit of climbing out here close to town, none of them really famous though.

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

dcboothfishhatchery.org/

DC Booth Fish Hatchery in Spearfish canyon is downstream of not only a whole bunch of climbing but also mining, logging, numerous septic tanks, cattle grazing, and who knows what else.

The Rifle Falls fish people just dont like dirtbag hippies hanging around and that's all there is to it.

Many others in the area like the Story Wyoming fist hatchery, and McNenny are also downstream of just about everything.

gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/…

Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10

Maybe they are worried about the effects of THC on the fish from all the blunts and ash that might get dropped in the water.

rging · · Salt Lake City, Ut · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210
Tom-onator wrote: Well duhh, everybody knows this! Ever try putting a harness on a fish? Slippery little bastards... m.youtube.com/watch?v=wRD4o… Any specific reasons quoted by them?
Gives new meaning to deep water soloing!
Greg Barnes · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 2,060

There's a fish hatchery near the airport in Mammoth Lakes, CA - so fairly close proximity to about 2 dozen climbing areas in the Bishop/Mammoth/Tuolumne/Yosemite area (about half of which are snowed in during normal winters). Very close proximity to tons of hot springs too (I think it's even called Hot Creek hatchery).

Also a small one south of Big Pine (a bit south of Bishop). There's one in Independence near Mt. Whitney/Whitney Portal/Alabama Hills, but it's been closed for a few years due to flood damage.

beensandbagged · · smallest state · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 0

Most hatcheries are open to the public, some are run as educational centers, with this type of traffic how can a climbing area in the vicinity not be compatible?

Stephen Smoots · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 16
Chris Re wrote:Leavenworth ?
Yes, the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery ( fws.gov/leavenworth/) is downstream of every area I've ever climbed at along the Icicle Creek.

To the OP, are you looking into possible environmental impacts at these areas? Or, are you looking for a job at a hatchery and want to live somewhere with good access to climbing? Or some other reason... Just curious since your post doesn't give many details.
Mr. Wonderful · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 10
Patrick Pharo wrote:The staff at the hatchery below Rifle maintains that climbing and hatchery operations are incompatible.
Patrick

Could you possibly give a little more background on this or maybe elaborate a bit more on what the events where that led up to this.
Patrick Pharo · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2003 · Points: 30

Rifle Mountain Park is a city park. The climbers and city officials have a great relationship, and climbing access at Rifle Mountain Park is not under any threat.

The city's property only covers about 2/3 of the canyon. There are long stretches of cliff line that remain undeveloped because they are owned by Colorado Parks & Wildlife, specifically managed as the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery. The hatchery land has an official ban on rock climbing.

The Rifle climbing community has long looked at the undeveloped walls and hoped to figure out a way to convince the fish hatchery / Colorado Parks & Wildlife to lift the ban. There have been recent discussions between Rifle climbers and CPW's rule making Commission and staff on the subject, but currently, no change to the ban is imminent.

I was surveying the MountainProject community to see if there are similar circumstances regarding climbing areas and fish hatcheries that Rifle climbers could look to as examples where the two activities compatibly coincide. If such situations exist, it would be conceivable that they would be helpful in future negotiations between climbers and the state.

Thanks

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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