Loss of 130,000 Trout at Virginia Hatchery Will Reduce Stocking in Warren County and 10 Other Counties

Trout anglers in Warren County and across the Shenandoah Valley can expect fewer fish stocked in local streams and other waterways after the loss of about 130,000 trout at a state fish hatchery.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced Friday, October 23, that equipment failure, historically low drought-driven water levels, and seasonal pathogens caused the fish loss at Coursey Springs Fish Hatchery.

The hatchery raises rainbow, brown, and brook trout and distributes them to 72 designated stocking waters across 11 counties.

Those counties include Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Frederick, Fauquier, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Bath, Alleghany, and Rockbridge.

The losses will affect trout stocking throughout the region, but wildlife officials emphasized that the incident will not cancel any scheduled stocking events.

Instead, the number of fish released during scheduled stockings will be reduced. The department plans to redirect surplus trout from its other cold-water hatcheries to help offset the shortage.

For local anglers, that means familiar fishing locations should still receive scheduled stockings, though potentially with fewer trout than planned.

What Happened at the Hatchery?

According to DWR, the problem began when a recirculation pump at Coursey Springs unexpectedly shut off overnight.

The pump plays a critical role in maintaining water circulation and adequate oxygen levels in the tanks where young trout are raised.

When the pump stopped working, water flow and oxygen levels within the tanks dropped.

Under normal conditions, the hatchery receives cold water from a natural spring. However, ongoing drought conditions have significantly reduced the amount of water available from that source.

That made the recirculation system particularly important.

With less natural spring water flowing into the facility, the pump was needed to help maintain conditions suitable for the fish.

When it stopped, the situation quickly became dangerous.

Trout are cold-water fish that need adequate dissolved oxygen to survive. When water circulation and oxygen levels decrease, the fish can become stressed and more vulnerable to disease.

DWR reported that the additional stress made the trout particularly susceptible to seasonal pathogens already present in the natural water source.

The combination of reduced oxygen, low water flow, and disease exposure resulted in the loss of approximately 130,000 fish.

The department has not determined why the pump shut off.

Officials also have not announced a detailed breakdown of the losses by trout species or identified how many fish from the affected hatchery were originally intended for each county.

Warren County and Shenandoah Valley Stockings Affected

The Coursey Springs facility supports a substantial portion of Virginia’s trout stocking program, particularly in the western and northern parts of the state.

For Warren County anglers, trout fishing is a familiar recreational activity, with local waters such as Passage Creek offering opportunities to catch stocked trout.

Neighboring counties also have popular trout streams and lakes that depend on hatchery-raised fish to supplement fishing opportunities.

The department’s announcement means the hatchery loss will affect more than the facility itself.

Because Coursey Springs supplies 72 waters across 11 counties, DWR will need to adjust how it distributes its remaining fish.

The department has not identified which individual streams or lakes will receive the largest reductions.

It also has not provided revised stocking numbers for Warren County or the other affected counties.

The assurance that scheduled stockings will continue is welcome news for anglers who plan fishing trips around the state’s stocking program.

However, fewer stocked fish could mean fewer opportunities to catch newly released trout in some waters.

The extent of that impact will depend on how many replacement fish are available and how DWR distributes them among the affected locations.

Other Hatcheries Will Help Make Up the Shortfall

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources operates nine fish hatcheries across the Commonwealth, including five cold-water hatcheries and four warm-water facilities.

Together, those facilities produce nearly five million fish each year to support recreational fishing opportunities throughout Virginia.

The cold-water hatcheries focus on raising trout, which require cooler water temperatures and adequate oxygen to remain healthy.

In response to the losses at Coursey Springs, DWR plans to use available surplus trout from its other cold-water hatcheries to supplement stocking efforts in the affected counties.

However, officials have not said how many replacement fish will be available or whether those transfers will fully offset the losses.

The incident also highlights the challenges hatcheries face during prolonged drought.

Unlike natural streams, where fish can sometimes move to more suitable conditions, fish raised in hatchery tanks depend on controlled water circulation and oxygen levels.

Equipment failures during periods of limited water availability can create serious problems, particularly when fish are already experiencing environmental stress.

The department has not announced whether the malfunction will lead to equipment changes or additional safeguards at Coursey Springs.

Anglers Encouraged to Check Stocking Updates

Despite the losses, Virginia’s trout stocking program will continue.

Anglers planning trips to Warren County and other affected areas should check DWR’s published stocking schedules for the latest information.

The department maintains an online schedule showing trout stocking dates and locations, along with updates about changes that may affect individual waters.

According to the department’s published records, Passage Creek in Warren County received a stocking on October 16. The department also lists additional stockings for other waters throughout the region.

Those records do not establish how many fish will be released during future stockings following the Coursey Springs loss.

For now, wildlife officials are working to distribute available trout as effectively as possible while maintaining scheduled stocking activities.

The incident represents a significant loss for Virginia’s hatchery system and could affect fishing opportunities across a large portion of the Shenandoah Valley.

While anglers may notice fewer fish being released in the coming weeks and months, DWR’s priority is to keep the stocking program operating despite the setback.

Anglers can follow updates through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources trout stocking schedule.