CLARKESVILLE – People have haven’t visited the Lake Burton area recently may be surprised to learn that the former Lake Burton Fish Hatchery has been leveled.
But a new, better facility will reopen this time next year, said John Lee Thomson, trout stocking coordinator for Fisheries, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division.
The Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, located on Ga. 197 adjacent to Moccasin Creek State Park, is responsible for producing some 300,000 10-inch fish each year. That equates to one-third of the Georgia Trout Stocking Program, Thomson said.
The facility that has been in place at Lake Burton was constructed in the 1940s, with the only significant renovation in 1978 as part of the Clean Water Act.
Thomson said the new design will result in healthier fish and larger success rates.
“It was certainly time,” Thomson said. “It’s very badly needed.”
The current work alongside Ga. 197 is the second, more visible phase of work. The first phase was across the highway and included a rebuilt dam and diversion structure for the stream supplying the hatchery.
Plans call for keeping eight of the existing linear raceways, but raceways 9 through 20 all will be demolished and rebuilt. All buildings on site also are going away to make way for the more modern facility.
Part of the new facility will be a large building with eight 16-foot circular tanks inside the building, Thomson said. “We hope that will eliminate our bad production years that are associated with droughts and low water conditions.”
Thomson and others visited hatchery facilities in Wyoming to study the circular tank fish culture that will be used at Lake Burton Fish Hatcher.
Additionally, the new facility will utilize the introduction of liquid oxygen – something the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery hasn’t had prior to this.
“It will certainly help with fish health and reduce stressors,” Thomson said.
The complex will maintain 16 linear raceways for outdoor fish growth.
Once completed, the overall hatchery complex will look completely different, Thomson said.
“Hopefully in January 2021 we’ll be back online,” Thomson said. “We’ll probably be able to contribute some fish to the latter part of fish stocking season [in 2021].”
As in the past, once the facility reopens it will remain open for self-guided tours during specified hours.
“The hatchery has always been open to the public, and we plan to maintain that,” Thomson said. “We are here for the Georgia anglers and Georgia visitors.”
Lake Burton Fish Hatchery normally has five full-time employees, including two biologists and two techs.
“We hope to return to full staff,” Thomson said.
Because of its location near trout waters, Lake Burton Fish Hatchery has one more staff member and one more stocking tree than other hatcheries.
Where are all the fish?
Some people may wonder what happened to the fish that normally would be at the hatchery.
The project timing was good in that most of the catchable fish for 2019 already had been stocked, Thomson said. Trout stocking is conducted from the end of March to Labor Day.
The 2020 catchable fish were stocked as fingerlings or moved to other hatcheries.
Why is the hatchery important?
Some people may ask why a hatchery located in Rabun County is important.
“Trout stocking and trout culture is big business for the state of Georgia,” Thomson said. “Fishing has a $172-million economic impact.”
Out of more than one million fishing license holders, about 100,000 people hold trout stamps, Thomson said.
“It’s a very good investment to raise these fish,” Thomson said.
Boat ramp closed until 2021
Users of the Moccasin Creek Boat Ramp, located at the Lake Burton Fish Hatchery, will need to make other plans for 2020. The ramp is now closed, and access to the ramp will be re-routed as part of the renovation process.
That structure also should reopen in early 2021.
Thomson said boaters still can launch from the Murray’s Cove Boat Ramp, a Georgia Power Co. structure, for free. Or boaters can utilize the ramp at LaPrade’s Marina on Ga. 197 for a fee.
