Hatchery Cove

Beneath the Nevada sun lies Hatchery Cove. It’s a quiet place now, abandoned and still. But Hatchery Cove once pulsed with life. Just north of Willow Beach Marina, the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery opened in 1962. Hatchery Cove played a vital role in this operation. The hatchery wasn’t just about fishing. It was a lifeline for endangered species like the Bonytail Chub and Razorback Sucker. These fish, nearly wiped out by dam construction, found a sanctuary at the hatchery. Hatchery Cove, with its connection to the Colorado River, provided the lifeblood for this operation. The river, cooled by the depths of Lake Mead, flowed into the hatchery at a constant 52 degrees. This cool water was essential for the trout and razorbacks. The hatchery used “raceways,” long troughs where fish grew for up to a year. Fresh water constantly circulated through these raceways. This prevented stagnation and kept the water temperature ideal for the fish. Even the smallest details were considered. Bio-balls, looking like tiny pasta, filtered the water. They cultivated healthy bacteria that converted harmful ammonia from fish waste into less toxic nitrites and nitrates. Hatchery Cove witnessed the final stage of this cycle every Friday morning. Thousands of trout were released into the Colorado River. They began their journey into the wider world, thanks to the nurturing environment of Hatchery Cove and the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery.