Norfork National Fish Hatchery

Norfork National Fish Hatchery is

located in the mountainous terrain of

north Arkansas near Mountain

Home. Established in 1955 and

opened in 1957, the purpose of

Norfork National Fish Hatchery is to

meet the fishery mitigation needs

arising from the Corps of Engineer

projects in the White River in

northern Arkansas and southern

Missouri.

The upper White River has been

altered by the construction of four

multi-purpose dams along its course.

The construction destroyed the warm

water riverine habitat and replaced

it with cold tailwaters. Beaver Dam

and Lake are the uppermost

impoundment. From there, the river

flows through Table Rock Lake,

Lake Taneycomo and finally through

Bull Shoals Reservoir. Tributary

impoundments are Norfork and

Greers Ferry.

What is a Fish Hatchery? Federal fish hatcheries have been

part of our nation’s resource

management efforts for more than

100 years. Hatcheries can be warm

water, cool water or cold water.

The Norfork National Fish Hatchery is one of many units

in the National Fish Hatchery

System administered by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Service also manages more

than 500 national wildlife

refuges across the country.

As the nation’s primary steward

of fish and wildlife resources, the

Service provides leadership in

habitat and wetlands protection;

fish and wildlife research and

technical assistance; and in the

conservation and protection of

migratory birds, anadromous

fishes, certain marine

mammals, and threatened

and endangered species.

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Norfork

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Norfork National Fish Hatchery

MISSOURI

ARKANSAS

White River

Viola

Clarkridge

Bull Shoals

Norfork

Salesville

Pineville

Wild

Cherry

Salem

Mitchell

Gepp

Cotter

Mountain

Home

Gassville
Norfork National Fish Hatchery is a

cold water hatchery primarily for the

production of trout to restock the

tailwaters below Norfork, Bull Shoals

and other dams. In addition, Norfork

National Fish Hatchery also provides

trout to reservoirs and in cooperation

with state game and fish agencies

distributes fish throughout Arkansas

and other nearby states. Resource

managers across the country

acknowledge hatcheries as a valuable

tool for the preservation of our

nation’s fishery program.

What We Do Here

Norfork National Fish Hatchery

was established to raise trout for

restocking areas impacted by

construction of dams, primarily in

the tailwaters of Norfork and Bull

Shoals. The hatchery is responsible

for raising three kinds of trout:

rainbow, brown and cutthroat. The

hatchery receives fertilized eggs

from other hatcheries in special

shipping containers. When the eggs

arrive at Norfork they are placed

into large hatching jars. The eggs

will begin to hatch in approximately

two weeks after they are placed into

the hatching jars.

After the eggs hatch they are placed

in aluminum troughs or tanks, where

they will stay until they are about 2-3

inches long (about 3-4 months old).

After the fish reach this size they are

placed in the raceways outside where

they continue to grow until they are

large enough to stock. This happens

when they reach 9 inches in length

(about 18 months). When the fish are

small they are fed 5-6 times a day

and they will be fed only about twice

a day just before being harvested

and stocked. Hatchery fish are

raised, harvested and stocked

year-round.
Did You Know...?

Norfork National Fish Hatchery

stocks over 2 million rainbow,

cutthroat and brown trout annually in

Arkansas and the surrounding states.

That the water in the raceways flows

at approximately 22,000 gallons per

minute.

That while fish are at the hatchery

they dine on a special commercial feed.

That trout need to have cold water

that is high in oxygen to survive and

that the aerator building adds the

extra oxygen needed.

That the fish are reared to a size of

approximately 9 inches in length at a

cost of .32 cents each.

That the water used in the hatchery

comes from the Norfork Reservoir

from a depth of 100 feet below the

surface, where the temperature is a

cool 44 degrees F.

Enjoy Your Visit

Visitors are welcome to tour the

hatchery. During your visit, please

feel free to ask questions you may

have concerning the hatchery. The

hatchery is opened from 7:00 am to

3:30 pm daily; restrooms, drinking

water and parking are available.

Special group tours can be arranged

by calling the hatchery in advance

of your visit.

Dry Run Creek, just outside the

fenced in area, provides a fishing

opportunity for disabled individuals

and anyone under the age of 16.

An accessible ramp, paved walk

and picnic tables are located here.

Fishing at this site is a catch and

release program.

Directly across from the hatchery

on Highway 177, the Corps of

Engineers operates a campground

and fishing area.

For More Information Contact

Hatchery Manager

Norfork National Fish Hatchery

1414 Highway 177 South

Mountain Home, AR 72653

870/499-5255

FW4_FR_Norfork@fws.gov

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To State Highway 177

Norfork

National Fish Hatchery

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Photos by USFWS

1. Visitor Parking

2. Visitor Information

3. Handicap-Accessible Public Restrooms

4a. Hatchery Office

4b. Hatchery and Juvenile Fish Rearing Area

5. Raceway Area

5a. Display Trout

6. Aerator building

7. Dry Run Creek (Handicapped accessible fishing ramp)

8. Sewage Treatment Plant

9. Equipment Storage Buildings

10. Feed Storage Bins

11. Private Residences for Hatchery Personnel
Norfork National Fish Hatchery

1414 Highway 177 South

Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653-9799

870/499 5255

http://www.fws.gov/4eao

Email: FW4_FR_Norfork@fws.gov

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

February 2002

Cover Art USFWS/Tim Knepp