Bowden Fish Hatchery officially reopened

PRESS RELEASE

BOWDEN, WV — Gov. Jim Justice today announced the reopening of the Bowden State Fish Hatchery, which has been closed since 2020 for major renovations. The hatchery features more than one mile of raceways where fish are reared.“I want to see West Virginia transformed into the best trout fishery in the country,” Gov. Justice said. “With all these new renovations we have here today, we’re quickly making that a reality. People are waking up to the fact that West Virginia has some of the most pristine and beautiful fishing waters in the world. I truly believe that when we invest in our tourism resources, like fishing, we see returns beyond what we can imagine.”

“The Bowden State Fish Hatchery has been upgraded to a state-of-the-art aquaculture facility capable of producing 50 percent more trout than the original hatchery,” said Jim Hedrick, hatchery program manager for WVDNR. “In addition to providing more physical space for rearing fish, these upgrades provide enhanced water filtering, sterilization and the direct addition of oxygen into the system. The renovation project at Bowden State Fish Hatchery cost $10 million and is expected to result in the production of more than 300,000 trout each year for stocking throughout the state.”Visitors to the hatchery are reminded to refrain from throwing objects into the raceway, attempting to feed the fish and placing hands or other objects in the water. “Upgrading and maintaining our fish hatcheries are critical components of West Virginia’s trout management program,” noted WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “These hatchery enhancements will increase trout production and improve fishing opportunities for anglers across the state.”The Bowden State Fish Hatchery is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Opening and closing times may vary to ensure public safety and depending on hatchery activities. For more information, call 304-637-0238.

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