Bellefonte Hatchery

[Dave_W]

I fished the Paradise yesterday and Thursday and noted the hatchery gates were closed and padlocked. I saw no vehicles going in or out either day. From where I could stand, there didn't appear to be water in the raceways (or perhaps I couldn't see). The place looks rough.

The PFBC website lists the hatchery as active. Recall about a decade ago there was a proposal to close this hatchery (it was discussed here on PAFF) and a decision was made to keep it open.

Anyway - does anybody know what's up? Is the site closed for cleaning/maintenance?

 

[nymphingmaniac]

don't know but if they were having a conference or whoever was assigned to be on site could not make it they would leave it closed. They often drain raceways for cleaning in the summer and other times

 

[The Rodfather]

Rumor is PFAS explosion nearby sending levels too high to operate. Yay, Cancer trout!

 

[lycoflyfisher]

Untapped on facebook aka fish sticks just had a big post about this.

 

[troutbert]

Untapped on facebook aka fish sticks just had a big post about this.

I can't access facebook. What's the gist of it?

 

[The Rodfather]

There was allegedly a cancer cluster popped up in one of the nearby neighborhoods back in 2019. The DEP started and investigation that has resulted in very high PFAS levels to the extent they are providing bottled water to the residents in the area.

Here is the link to DEP investigation page

https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Region...Pages/Benner-Township-HSCA-Investigation.aspx

 

[nymphingmaniac]

high tech rd is across from the airport and I can see how it could make it to Spring creek by rock road (not far from where they are removing the dam) considering the paths groundwater can take.
I remember the story. It was detected 2 years ago in the wells of a housing development. The chemicals are used in fire fighting foam (airport) or water repellent treatments. Closing it now? maybe they found it further away than anticipated or it just made its way to the site.

it would be terrible, NOT, if that hatchery closed

 

[troutbert]

I heard about the PFAS in the groundwater near the airport some time ago, and that's documented in the article.

But has all the stuff about the hatchery closing, and their water supply being contaminated with PFAS coming from some reliable source, or is it just speculation?

Is the Benner Spring hatchery still operating? It is closer to the airport than the Bellefonte hatchery.

 

[Cznymph]

I fished the Paradise yesterday and Thursday and noted the hatchery gates were closed and padlocked. I saw no vehicles going in or out either day. From where I could stand, there didn't appear to be water in the raceways (or perhaps I couldn't see). The place looks rough.

The PFBC website lists the hatchery as active. Recall about a decade ago there was a proposal to close this hatchery (it was discussed here on PAFF) and a decision was made to keep it open.

Anyway - does anybody know what's up? Is the site closed for cleaning/maintenance?

It’s my understanding that since the detection of Mudsnails in several hatcheries that they are no longer allowing visitors at those facilities.

 

[wildtrout2]

It’s my understanding that since the detection of Mudsnails in several hatcheries that they are no longer allowing visitors at those facilities.

Sounds like a cover up. 😉

 

[keirns4]

Sounds like a cover up. 😉

The Government (State) covering something up, no way!

 

[RLeep2]

As regards the visitation policy, it could simply be something as innocent as a carryover from COVID that they either prefer to keep in place or just haven't got around to changing back. Point is, doesn't have to be some sort of conspiracy..

 

[wildtrout2]

As regards the visitation policy, it could simply be something as innocent as a carryover from COVID that they either prefer to keep in place or just haven't got around to changing back. Point is, doesn't have to be some sort of conspiracy..

That was like three years ago though. Not the same issue that it once was.

 

[nymphingmaniac]

As regards the visitation policy, it could simply be something as innocent as a carryover from COVID that they either prefer to keep in place or just haven't got around to changing back. Point is, doesn't have to be some sort of conspiracy..

no. the gates and area have been open consistently for the last two years.

Benner springs. The gates were closed this morning, but it was Sunday morning. I have seen the gates open Sunday afternoon. Yes, Benner is closer and I can see how contaminants could get into Big Hollow, a trib to SC. I got pictures of the removed dam. Will post later

 

[Cznymph]

Sounds like a cover up. 😉

Call it what you want, but the hatcheries with mud snails are listed as closed to visitors on the PFBC website and the ones without are listed as open.

 

[wildtrout2]

Call it what you want, but the hatcheries with mud snails are listed as closed to visitors on the PFBC website and the ones without are listed as open.

That was the gist of my post. 🙂

 

[troutbert]

I just stopped by the hatchery. Most of the raceways I couldn't see into, but I could see 2 raceways on the upstream end, on the side closest to the stream, and they had water flowing.

In past summers I think I recalled that some of the raceways were emptied and some were not.

I Googled "Bellefonte hatchery closing" and similar searches and found nothing indicating that the hatchery is closed down or about to.

 

[Cznymph]

I just stopped by the hatchery. Most of the raceways I couldn't see into, but I could see 2 raceways on the upstream end, on the side closest to the stream, and they had water flowing.

In past summers I think I recalled that some of the raceways were emptied and some were not.

I Googled "Bellefonte hatchery closing" and similar searches and found nothing indicating that the hatchery is closed down or about to.

It’s important to remember that the amount of fish a raceway can hold is dependent on weight and not the number of fish. This time of year Id wager that not many raceways are in use, as the fish are still fairly small.

 

[bringthepain]

It’s important to remember that the amount of fish a raceway can hold is dependent on weight and not the number of fish. This time of year Id wager that not many raceways are in use, as the fish are still fairly small.

I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that the fish would cook pretty quickly in the raceway in the hot weather

 

[nymphingmaniac]

they tend to close and then clean after the fingerling stockings (dumping existing fish). They usually dump them into the Bald Eagle at the end of June. Its a real pain to fish it afterwards. This year the BE had few fishable days since the middle of June so I haven't fished it since then so I avoided those pests. Yeah, I know, stocking fingerlings just in time for the warming of the water. however, some bows make it to fall, even as far down as dowdy's hole. There are at least 5 significant springs that I know of plus spring and Nittany creek that give the BE a shot of cooler water that can provide thermal refuge during a normal summer. This year might be an exception where few to none of the fingerlings make it.