Erwin National Fish Hatchery
Throughout 2020 and 2021, TennGreen Land Conservancy acquired nearly 20 acres of land adjacent to the Erwin National Fish Hatchery for a future donation to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service). This land, which is largely forested, contains an artesian spring that is important for the groundwater recharge of the spring that feeds into the hatchery’s operations.
Established in 1897, the Erwin National Fish Hatchery is managed by the Service. It is dedicated to breeding three unique strains of rainbow trout and one strain of brook trout to support fisheries management and ongoing national research. The hatchery is also active in the recovery of multiple imperiled freshwater mussel species. The facility propagates mussels for introduction into areas where rare species or declining populations need a boost.
Acquisition of this land is vital for protecting the watershed that supplies high-quality water necessary to support hatchery trout and freshwater mussel programs. Utilizing funds set aside for bat and mussel mitigation efforts, TennGreen purchased the land and donated it to the Service in 2023 to expand the hatchery.