January 31, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Suzanne Seldes,
585-766-7409
Rainbows and Brown Trout Thrive; Powder Mills Hatchery Prepares for Opening Day Tournament
It may be frigid
outside, but the staff at the
Fish Hatchery at
Powder Mills Park is busy preparing for spring. The fully-stocked
Hatchery expects to release more than 14,000 trout during the 2010
fishing season. The majority of the trout will be released just prior to
the April 1, 2010
Riedman Foundation Opening Day Tournament.
The staff at the Hatchery works year round to provide an environment that fosters growth and optimal development for the fish. “We are out there all winter long, feeding the fish and ensuring that the raceways are clean and temperate,” says Hatchery manager Ron Mitchell. “The fish we release in the spring must be strong and healthy. The Hatchery’s work is an important part of our community’s environmental conservation efforts.”
Throughout the 2010 fishing season, the Hatchery will release both brown and rainbow trout into the stretch of Irondequoit Creek that passes through Powder Mills Park. This year, the Hatchery expects to release more than 14,000 trout over the course of the season:
· 7,000 brown trout yearlings, estimated to be 9 inches long by spring
· 2,500 two-year-old brown trout, estimated to 14-17" long upon release
· 560 three-year-old brown trout, approximately 17-21" long by release time
· 105 four- and five-year-old brown trout, estimated to be 21-25” by spring
· 4,100 rainbow trout yearlings
The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park is open all year long. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to visit with staff and learn how hatchery operations positively effect our local environment. Hatchery staff is on duty Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. most weekends. The hatchery phone number is 585-586-1670.
The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park was closed in mid-December 2002 due to Monroe County budget cuts. In late 2003, the Riedman Foundation stepped forward to partner with the County to reopen the 70 year-old hatchery. Under the arrangement, the Foundation provides the funding for staff, maintenance and operational support, as well as capital improvements.