Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery

Project Title:

Replace Lights in the Hatchery Building (FFS #R6PE)
Replace deteriorated pond kettles in Ponds #16-26 (FFS #R6PK)

State: South Dakota

Initial Project Description: Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery used stimulus funds to replace several lighting fixtures inside its main hatchery building. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the hatchery in 1956 to provide mitigation for the Upper Missouri River Development Plan, a series of hydroelectric power dams on the Missouri River. The Yankton, South Dakota facility has produced more than 5 billion fish, which the Service uses to stock waters in the Midwest.

Today, the hatchery’s primary focus is on the recovery of endangered pallid sturgeon. The hatchery also raises paddlefish, walleye, yellow perch, bluegill, black crappie, largemouth bass, and rainbow trout. The Service uses fish produced at the hatchery for release into the Missouri River system. They provide recreational angling opportunities on tribal lands and in state waters. The facility is also home to an aquarium, open to the public from April to October of each year, where visitors can see different types of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. In addition, visitors may enjoy guided tours of the Hatchery, including buildings devoted to the care of endangered species and sturgeon. The hatchery hosts 80,000 to 100,000 visitors annually.

The old fixtures were not conducive to the humid conditions inside the buildings. They were inefficient and burned out frequently due to moisture. The new lights require 59 percent less energy and contain sealed fluorescent bulbs. The new lights will last longer and are safer for employees and the visiting public. Workers from a Yankton, South Dakota company replaced all the fixtures and bulbs in the main hatchery building in September 2009.

April 2011 Project Update: The lights inside the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery building were replaced in the fall of 2009 by Tim Schroeder, a Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery maintenance mechanic. The old lights burned out easily due to the high humidity inside the building. The new lights are designed to handle the moisture, and are safer and more energy efficient.

In addition, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used $152,111.15 in Recovery Act funds to replace deteriorated pond kettles in Ponds #16-26 at Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery. The crumbling concrete kettles were a safety hazard for employees and caused fish losses. The new kettles, installed by Ron Anderson Construction, Inc. and their subcontractor Welfl Construction, are safer and prevent fish losses during harvest. In addition, the project allowed for the removal and replacement of the kettles’ sub-bases. The project was completed in the fall of 2010.

Visit the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium website for additional information.

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