51,000 Fish Die In Fannin County Hatchery After Water Is Cut Off
Twelve of the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery’s 46 fish basins were affected by the lack of water, according to the project leader for the hatchery.
Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery
Someone turned off the main water supply to the Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery in Fannin County in the early morning hours Monday, killing an estimated 51,000 trout ranging in size from 4 to 10 inches, officials said.
It could have been even worse, were it not for a 2- inch stick stuck under the floodgate.
“That kept the gate from shutting completely, which allowed some water still through, just not enough,” said Kelly Taylor, the project leader for the hatchery.
He says 12 of the hatchery’s 46 fish basins were affected by the lack of water, and quickly rising temperatures killed the fish.
The Fannin County Sheriff’s Department took DNA swabs of the gate valve, the hatchery said.
“It’s senseless. I don’t know why anybody would do it. And that was one of the key questions from the sheriff’s department, ‘You know anybody who has anything against you?’” Taylor said.
The hatchery says the monetary damage is more than $61,000.
It will work with other hatcheries in the area to replenish its stock, which shouldn’t be a problem because it’s been a “bumper year” for all hatcheries in the state, Taylor said.
He says the valve to the floodgate has been locked and secured to prevent anyone from tampering with it in the future.
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