State Wildlife Agency Addressing Hurricane Impact to 2025 Trout Stocking Program

Raleigh --  NCRW Press Release: The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) is developing a plan for this year’s Public

Mountain Trout Waters (PMTW)

stocking program that will incorporate modifications needed due to major damage to the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery caused by Hurricane Helene. It will include hatchery repair plans and adjusted production operations, stocking schedule and revised online maps. 

“Our team is dedicated and focused on maintaining a positive trout fishing experience to North Carolinian anglers and others who visit our state to enjoy our stocked trout waters,” said Division of Inland Fisheries Chief Christian Waters. "We are confident this modified plan will accomplish that goal as we tackle major damage to one of our largest trout-producing hatcheries, the related significant loss of trout, and accessibility issues to stocked trout locations due to the storm.” 

Last September, Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County north of Marion sustained major damage as a result of flooding and landslides during Hurricane Helene, severely impacting trout production capabilities. Over 600,000 fish were lost at that hatchery, including broodstock. Severe damage to the infrastructure and facility roads and debris deposition resulted in temporarily closing the facility until repairs are made. Some of the hatchery’s trout escaped during the flooding; however, most of the 600,000 fish of various sizes died when the storm compromised the water supply to the raceways and hatchery building. 

“We are currently working with contractors and engineers to repair the damage and restore operations,” said Production Supervisor David Deaton. “Some of these repairs will include improvements to add resiliency to the facility so impacts from future storms are lessened.”  
Armstrong State Fish Hatchery is anticipated to be fully operational by January 2026. As portions of the facility are restored, they will be utilized to resume trout production.

The planned renovation project at the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery, NCWRC’s largest trout-producing facility, has been paused until Armstrong is fully operational. Trout production is at full capacity at Setzer which will provide most of the trout stocked in 2025. In 2024, the N.C. General Assembly appropriated $20 million to NCWRC to be matched with $19.5 million in agency funds for major renovations at Setzer to address aging infrastructure and to provide safeguards from future flooding.  
While the damage to Armstrong is significant and will require extensive repairs to restore operations, the other mountain hatcheries (Setzer,

Table Rock and Marion) received limited damage and are fully operational.  

Inland Fisheries Division staff have begun assessing all state Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest locations across the mountain region to determine whether hatchery staff and anglers will be able to safely access those sites in 2025.    

“Based on initial assessments of PMTW locations in hurricane impacted areas, and the level of damage to our hatcheries from the storm, it was evident we needed to modify our original 2025 stocking plans for the mountain region,” said Regional Fishery Supervisor Doug Besler.  “We will use the information from site assessments to develop our 2025 Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest trout stocking plan.”  

The stocking plan may be modified throughout the stocking season for logistical purposes and to allow for last-minute changes to schedules due to field conditions, such as road and bridge repairs.  
“Anglers may notice that the stocking frequency of locations may be reduced to monthly only, the numbers of stocked trout may be reduced, and species ratios will be altered,” said Besler. “The stocking schedule will be posted on the agency website and changes to that schedule will be posted as soon as possible. We encourage anglers to check this site frequently to ensure that they have the most accurate information.” 

The PMTW program manages approximately 5,400 miles and 2,600 acres of trout waters in 26 western counties, with five distinct classifications: catch and release, delayed harvest, hatchery supported, special regulations, and wild trout waters. NCWRC hatcheries produce and stock about 1 million brook, rainbow and brown trout each year. Other activities associated with PMTW include the management of wild, self-sustaining trout populations; native brook trout conservation; aquatic organism passage and stream habitat projects; facilitation of numerous partnerships; and aquatic nuisance species management.   

Image: WNCTimes