Berkshire Hatchery Foundation Mission
"To promote and support the development of aquaculture and environment education programs for the Berkshire Community."
Nourished by an aquifer that sends 200 gallons per minute of chilled
water coursing through its fish pools, the hatchery dates to 1914. The 148-acre property
was entrusted to the federal government by the family of trout fisherman
John Sullivan Scully, and served to cultivate trout, smallmouth bass and
later Atlantic salmon until budget cuts led to the hatchery's 1994 closing.
The restoration of the facility as a center of aquaculture -- the
cultivation of fish for food, educational and recreational purposes -- is
testimony to the efforts of a former Hampshire College professor, the state
and federal governments and a coalition of willing volunteers starting in
1999.
Presently ten 3,500-gallon fish tanks have been refurbished and are operational; three tanks are currently stocked with Atlantic salmon, rainbow and brown trout brood stock. The egg hatch house has been retrofitted with new equipment for hatching and currently houses 5,000 Rainbow and 30,000 Brown trout hatched from the fall spawning season.
Two residences have been refurbished inside. The main dwelling houses staff from neighboring Gould Farm; the second residence is used for staff and interns. Nature trails are groomed and maintained by volunteers year round. The focus for the upcoming year will be maintaining the outside of the buildings and re-establishing picnic areas and camping grounds.
The Hatchery is located on Hatchery Road in the village of Hartsville, New Marlboro, approximately 6 miles east of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Note that the road which runs between Route 23 to the north and Route 57 to the south is called River Road on its northern end and Hatchery Road on the southern end.
Mailing address: Po Box 84, Monterey, MA01245
(413) 528-9761
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Staff