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BONNEVILLE FISH HATCHERY SELF-GUIDED TOUR




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BONNEVILLE FISH HATCHERY SELF-GUIDED TOUR



HATCHERY HISTORY
: Built in 1909, Bonneville Fish Hatchery was first named Central Hatchery. It
is operated by Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife

(See our Kiosks throughout the hatchery for more history
information).
Stop #1 - The Spawning Room:
From the Bonneville Gift Shop, or the main entrance to the hatchery,
look south and you will see the building labeled OFFICE / SPAWNING ROOM / RESTROOMS. Go there and
enter the Spawning Room. Here you will enter a visitor center that includes artwork, fish & wildlife related
displays, vending machines and glass windows that allow you to view the actual area where the spawning takes place.

In this area you will see, a 12 minute video that will show the basic steps that are taken when the spawning is
done in the fall along with many other hatchery activities. Also note the information on the back wall of the
spawning area. The activities that take place in this area take place September through November. On the north
wall you can see lighted displays. One takes you through the Salmon Rearing Cycle that follows spawning, and
one is information on Wild Fish Management.
Stop #2 - Adult Holding Ponds
: After you leave the Spawning Room if you go to the left, or the west
side of the building you will find stairs that lead down to the back of the Spawning Room. You can take these
stairs and see where the adult salmon are held prior to spawning. This is the place where the adults actually
return from the ocean. They swim up the Columbia River, into Tanner Creek and finally into these holding
ponds at Bonneville Fish Hatchery. The adult salmon begin returning in late August. The only time you can see
these adults is late September through November. Some of the ponds here are also used to hold smolts that are
nearing time to be released into Tanner Creek.
CAUTION: For your safety, please be sure to not enter any areas that have gates or chains closing the area off
or are marked Authorized Personnel Only.




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Stop #3 - Rearing Ponds (Battery C & Battery D)
: As you leave the Adult Holding Pond area go back up
the stairs and head straight north. You will see the Rearing Ponds called Battery C & Battery D. After the eggs are
hatched in the Egg Incubation Building they are called fry and are ponded or placed into these Rearing Ponds.
They are then held in these ponds until they are fingerlings or smolts and are about 5 months old for Chinook and
18 months old for Coho. This is when they are released into a pipeline that takes them to Tanner Creek.
At this time the fish then head down Tanner Creek, down the Columbia River and out to the Pacific Ocean.
They will return to Bonneville Fish Hatchery as adults in about 2 to 4 years. They will then be spawned and the
Salmon Life Cycle continues!
Stop #4 - Rearing Ponds (Battery B)
: From Battery C & Battery D turn right and head east. After passing the
Drinking Fountain you will come to Battery B which currently holds Winter Steelhead or Coho Salmon.
Stop #5 - Rainbow Trout Ponds:
While looking at the Battery B Rearing Ponds turn around and face
south. If you go straight you will be at the Rainbow Trout Ponds. We do not raise Trout at Bonneville Fish
Hatchery. They are brood stock that is held here for visitors to enjoy viewing. CAUTION: Trout can bite! Do
not tease or touch them!

You will notice a vending machine by the Trout Pond where, for $0.25, you can purchase fish pellets to feed the
trout. These Trout LOVE to eat and appreciate your treats. The money from these vending machines is used to
keep the grounds at Bonneville Fish Hatchery beautiful for you. We appreciate you visiting our hatchery.
While at this Trout Pond you can cross the small bridge at the east end of the pond and go left. Here you will
find another pond; the Upper Trout Pond, which holds more Rainbow Trout.
Stop #6 - Outdoor Sturgeon Pond
: Next to this Upper Trout Pond you will see, behind you, the Outdoor
Sturgeon Pond. There is a walkway around this pond that you can access going either left or right from the
Upper Trout Pond.
We do not raise sturgeon at Bonneville Fish Hatchery. They are only here for you to enjoy viewing.
Sturgeon like to eat smelt, shad, eels and etc. The sturgeon are a prehistoric fish that are cartilaginous fish.
This means they have no bones! This is like a shark or eel. This is one reason people like to eat sturgeon. A lot
of anglers catch sturgeon in the Columbia River.
Stop #7 - Sturgeon Viewing Center (underwater viewing)
:From the Outdoor Sturgeon Pond head
east and you will see a small white building that is the Sturgeon Viewing Center. This center was opened in
December 1998 and is the home of Herman the Sturgeon. Herman is over 10 long, weighs about 425 pounds
and is more than 65 years old!
Please enjoy this special facility and take note of all the wonderful informational displays located in this
building and outside around the pond.
To keep these facilities safe and beautiful, please stay on designated walkways. Thank you.
Stop #8 Conclusion
: As you leave the Sturgeon Viewing Center and return to the parking lot you will
notice a large white building. This is the historic Egg Incubation Building. There is a smaller building at the
west end of the Egg Incubation Building that is the Garden Shop (no access). Bordering the parking lot you will
also notice the Battery A Rearing Ponds which currently hold Winter Steelhead, Summer Steelhead and Fall
Chinook and one pond of Trout.

When you are back at the Bonneville Gift Shop this will conclude your Self-Guided Tour.
We hope you enjoyed your visit to our facility
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PLEASE RECYCLE
If possible, please return this paper to the Gift Shop or the Visitors Center when you are finished so
others can use it. PLEASE DO NOT LITTER.