Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery

National fish hatcheries raise fish and other aquatic species – like crayfish and mussels - to help restore and sustain important fish and other aquatic species for the benefit of the American people. Freshwater mussels play very important roles in our rivers and lakes filtering the water and creating habitat for fish and aquatic insects fish like to eat. With declining fish populations and declining freshwater mussel populations becoming prevalent across the world, fish hatchery operations are more important than ever.

The Ozark hellbender is an endangered aquatic species and was listed in September 2011under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation projects are underway to restore the Ozark hellbender population. In partnership with our Ecological Services Division and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission we build and supply artificial nesting boxes for the Ozark hellbender.  The known river habitat where Ozark hellbenders reproduce has declined in the Spring and Eleven Point rivers, so these nesting boxes are placed in those areas to increase the chances of reproductive success and enhance the recovery of the species.   

The speckled pocketbook mussel is an endangered mussel and was listed as endangered in February 1989 under the Endangered Species Act.  We work in close collaboration with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to stabilize and increase numbers of the speckled pocketbook mussel and other imperiled mussels found in the Little Red River watershed.  Each spring we set out mussel cages in Greers Ferry Lake to produce mussels. The cages hold host fish that have larval mussels attached to their gills. Once the mussel develops and is no longer dependent on the fish, it drops off into a sand-filled tray at the bottom of the cage. The young mussels use the sand as their temporary home, consuming the natural food available and once they reach a target size they are collected to fulfil continued efforts to enhance the recovery of the  species.