Digging for Fish: Renovating Wild Rose Hatchery for the Future

In early 2008, the first fish were moved into the new coldwater fish rearing facilities at the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery.

June 2008: Construction continues to move along on this ambitious project "Rejuvenating a Reliable Workhorse" [PDF 240KB] for the state hatchery system.

The first $15.9 million phase of construction which began in 2006 and was completed in 2008, involved the construction of all new coldwater facilities and a new visitors center.

Wild Rose Hatchery Eductation Center

Work is expected to begin this summer on the second phase of the renovation, building new coolwater facilities to raise walleye, lake sturgeon, spotted musky and northern pike. A third phase will restore the wetlands, springs and headwaters of the stream that has been damaged when the hatchery was first built more than 100 years ago.

The Wild Rose hatchery is critical to Wisconsin's $2.3 billion sport fishery: it produces fully 27 percent of the trout and salmon DNR stocks; 64 percent of northern pike; 100 percent of lake sturgeon stocked, and 100 percent of spotted musky. The $24.3 million hatchery project was identified in a 2003 stocking study as the state's highest priority for addressing the growing demand for fishing opportunities.

: See the new trout and salmon rearing facilities rising from the century-old hatchery grounds as part of Phase I by viewing the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery Update [VIDEO Length 5:45]