Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Remodel
We’re thrilled to announce a significant renovation of the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery. Originally constructed in 1968 as part of the mitigation efforts for the Mayfield and Mossyrock dams, this facility stands as one of the largest steelhead hatcheries on the west coast. Together with the Cowlitz Salmon hatchery, it has played a vital role in fisheries and conservation in SW Washington for over 56 years. While it has undergone some upgrades along the way, it’s now time for a major overhaul. The program of projects, spanning multiple years, will focus on incorporating modern technology and designs to enhance fish health, overall survival, operational efficiency, infrastructure reliability, and environmental stewardship.
The Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Remodel program includes five phases: Planning, Design and Permitting, Final approval, Construction, and Commissioning. Kick-off for the planning phase is scheduled to begin in August and will take two calendar years. It will be followed by a two-year design phase. The tentative construction completion date is in 2032.
Power Public Notice: Tacoma Power will be closing the Blue Creek Boat Launch area to camping due to Geophysical testing in preparation for our Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Remodel alternative analysis. The site will be closed to camping from the evening of August 4 through 9. The boat ramp and associated parking will remain open during this time.
- July 2024 Program Update
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Internal TPU Program Team Meetings
July 7, 2024: Schedule review
July 10, 2024: Internal regular team meeting
- First schedule review
- Two-week look ahead
- Climate change stream projection update
- Survey task update
- Site visit demographics
July 11, 2024: Site visit groundwater study Cowlitz Trout Hatchery and South Wells
July 16, 2024: Special meeting task 1.3 communications management plan review
July 24, 2024: Internal regular team meeting
- Permitting ground water study
- Review risk register
July 29, 2024: Special meeting task 1.6 change management plan and task 2.4 partnering charter
Site Activity
July 10, 224: Communications website page sign notifications
July 11, 2024: Field work
Resource meetings for interested parties
Information coming soon
Public presentations
Information coming soon
- High-level schedule 2023-2032
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2023-2024
- Form consultant and TPU design team
- Survey and data collection
- Major studies and decision points on water supply
- Long-term husbandry plan (bioprogram)
- Alternative analysis of hatchery components
2025-2026
- Initiate permitting
- Survey
- Continued alternative analysis and major studies
- Long-term husbandry plan (bioprogram)
- Major Go/No Go for hatchery alternatives
- 10% design interim construction phasing
- Construction costs and interim phasing costs
- Budget final design and begin final design
- Budget construction phases one and two
2027-2028
- Finalize permitting
- Final design
- Final cost and interim construction phasing
- Interim husbandry plan (bioprogram)
- Break ground construction (phase one)
- Early phased construction (phase two)
- Budget construction phases three and four
- Interim operations plan
- Commission and closeout
2029-2030
- Construction (phase three)
- Interim operations plan
- Commission and closeout
2031-2032
- Construction (phase four)
- Interim operations plan
- Commission and closeout
Click here to view the detailed schedule (updated monthly)
- Updates and project milestones
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Want to see a presentation or attend a meeting? Click here to view information on the Cowlitz Fisheries Technical Committee.
- FAQs
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What improvements are proposed for the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Remodel Program?
The Cowlitz Trout Hatchery Remodel Program is divided into multiple phases. Phase 1’s goal is to identify solutions before beginning design and permitting in Phase 2. Overall, the project will focus on incorporating modern technology and designs to enhance fish health, overall survival, operational efficiency, infrastructure reliability, and environmental stewardship.
Will the trout hatchery remain operational during the remodel?
Yes, it will remain operational.
What measures are being taken to minimize environmental impact during the remodel?
We will comply with Federal, State, and Local regulations throughout the process to minimize environmental impacts while meeting our compliance and mitigation requirements.
Will there be any changes to the species or production capacity of the fish hatchery after the rebuild?
We will raise the same mix of species and have a comparable or greater capacity to produce our current fish programs. For more information on our fish hatchery programs please see our current Fisheries and Hatcheries Management Plan (FHMP) 2020.
Will access to the boat launch be affected? If so, when and for how long?
At this time, we are not expecting long-term closures to access the boat launch, although portions (but not all) of the parking lot may be temporarily closed off. At times, there may be short-term (throughout the day) delays to facilitate construction traffic and protect the public and our workers. If long-term closures become necessary, we will post the information at least 24 hours in advance onsite and on our River Flows and Lake Levels page.
What are you doing about bird predation?
Additional bird predation measures at the hatchery will be addressed in the design phase and as part of the alternatives analysis. In 2016, in response to significant fish loss due to bird predation, we installed wires, block nets and wire fencing to protect the fish. Additionally, we increased hazing hours and implemented updated hazing techniques. We have also improved our fish counting and avian impact monitoring through newer technologies.
Are you making changes to the ADA access or the ADA Fishing Site?
We are not planning to change the ADA access or Fishing Site.
Would you like to ask a question?
Use the form below to submit a comment about the trout hatchery project. All comments are reviewed by TPU.