Williams Creek 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 important than ever. 

Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery has the leading role in the production of the threatened Apache trout. The Apache trout recovery program began in 1941. In the first year of operation, the Apache trout production was unfortunately unsuccessful. Between the 1940s and early 1980s, the Apache trout program had little to no success. In 1983, research efforts began in an attempt to improve production of the threatened Apache trout. By 1986, the Apache trout program successfully spawned to have 60,000 eggs. By the early 2020’s, the program has improved to successfully spawn approximately 700,000 Apache trout eggs each year. Also, the hatchery provides the State of Arizona 225,000 Apache trout eggs annually.