Grand Lake Stream State Fish Hatchery

Grand Lake Stream Hatchery

About the facility

The Grand Lake Stream Hatchery was established in 1936. Major renovations occurred in 1962, replacing earthen pools with concrete raceways followed by covered buildings in the 1970's. An influent microstrainer system and ultraviolet water treatment equipment was installed in 1973. Hatchery effluent improvements were made in 2010, with a fish waste settling tank routed to a single discharge location.

Water for the facility is supplied by West Grand Lake through a single intake system. Water is treated and gravity-fed to 14 covered raceways.

Species reared at the Grand Lake Stream facility include landlocked salmon and brook trout. The facility's annual production is 80,000 catchable fish (>15,000 lbs)

Improving Maine’s Fish Hatcheries

Recognizing the economic importance of recreational fishing in Maine, Governor Mills has allocated $20 million for the redesign of the Grand Lake Stream and New Gloucester fish hatcheries and water quality improvements at all state hatcheries through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. Learn more.

Fun Facts

  • The United States government first opened a fish hatchery at Grand Lake Stream in 1875, making it one of the oldest sites of fish hatchery activities in the country.
  • Landlocked salmon are trapnetted annually near the outlet of West Grand Lake to collect "wild" spawning fish during the fall egg take.
  • Serving as the supplier of West Grand strain of landlocked salmon, it provides three quarters of the salmon used in the statewide stocking program.