Projects and Research
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.
This hatchery is developing spawning and rearing techniques for a variety of endangered, threatened, or imperiled species and continues to adapt as the needs evolve. Past projects include the rearing of Ozark hellbender salamander, and alligator snapping turtle. Current projects include, in cooperation with Arkansas State University, assisting in nationwide efforts to protect and restore listed and non-listed mussel populations. We accomplish this by developing culture techniques, investigating life histories, and providing a refuge for imperiled populations. The goal for mussel restoration efforts are to conduct research and ultimately stock mussels back into the wild to restore the species.
