DEEP Centennial Celebration of the Burlington State Fish Hatchery is This Saturday

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Press Releases

10/09/2023

DEEP’s Centennial Celebration of the Burlington State Fish Hatchery is This Saturday

(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites the public to attend a celebration of “100 Years of Raising Fish for You” at the Burlington State Fish Hatchery on Saturday.

Join the hatchery staff for behind-the-scenes guided tours and close encounters with the trout and salmon. A variety of recreational fishing and conservation groups and others will have fun activities for kids and adults, including making fish prints, tying your own fly, and practicing casting a line. DEEP Fisheries Division biologists will be demonstrating backpack electrofishing and one of our electrofishing boats will be onsite. Rain forced the postponement of this event from its original date on Saturday, September 23, which was National Hunting and Fishing Day.

The Burlington location got its start as a hatchery with a few hand-dug ponds. The oldest hatchery of the three operated by the DEEP, the Burlington facility came to be as Connecticut was seeking to expand the number and sizes of trout that were produced by the state’s first trout hatchery in Windsor Locks, which was established in 1899.

“For so many people, a love of the outdoors begins with fishing, and so many of those fishing experiences here in Connecticut began at this storied hatchery,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Fishing is a huge draw for residents and visitors, and such an easy way to spend time outside with friends and family. The celebration is a wonderful testament to our staff’s hard work and how they’re providing a world class fishing adventure right here in our backyard.”

“The Burlington hatchery is a great example of sustainable operations – for the last 100 years, water from artesian wells has supplied the hatchery; no pumping is needed, and it flows downhill through the facility via gravity,” said Deputy Commissioner Mason Trumble.

“In addition to the tens of thousands of brook, brown, and rainbow trout raised annually to be stocked in western Connecticut, the hatchery leads our efforts to support the popular “Survivor Brown Trout” fishery in the West Branch Farmington River and Kokanee salmon program,” said Fisheries Division Director Pete Aarrestad.

“The Burlington Fish Hatchery is an amazing facility that has withstood the test of time. For more than 100 years, this facility has produced high quality fish that have provided excellent outdoor recreational opportunities for Connecticut citizens as well as visitors. The staff pride themselves on the quality of these fish and are pleased to be able to provide them for all to enjoy,” said Hatchery Supervisor Tom Chairvolotti.

Trout and salmon are among the most sought-after gamefish in the state, generating approximately 1.2 million fishing trips, with trout responsible for approximately $70 million in retail sales, and $10 million in state and local tax revenue to the state’s economy.

More than 100 years ago, in an area of pasture, woodlands, and some tillage land, as part of a survey to find a suitable location, pipes driven to a depth of ten feet produced an immediate and steady supply of high-quality water. By the next year (1921), 400,000 brook trout fry were placed into a few hand-dug ponds. The fish commissioners were amazed at the rapid growth, being able to reach a size of six inches within a year, a remarkable feat for the day. With such promising water supply and fish growth, the state opted to purchase 222 acres of land, to formally establish the Burlington State Fish Hatchery.

Free parking, food provided by the Burlington Lions Club, and facilities will be available to the public. See you at the centennial celebration!

WHO: DEEP program staff and invited vendors and exhibitors, including:

Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE)

Connecticut Fly Fisherman’s Association

Farmington Valley Trout Unlimited

No Child Left Inside

WHAT: Burlington Fish Hatchery’s Centennial Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: DEEP Burlington Fish Hatchery

34 Belden Rd. Burlington, CT 06013

Twitter: @CTDEEPNews

Facebook: DEEP on Facebook