McKenzie Hatchery       

Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

     Adult Spring Chinook Salmon begin returning to fresh water during the early spring months. After a journey of approximately 300 miles in   fresh water, they arrive at the McKenzie Hatchery beginning in mid-May of each year. They will not be ready to spawn until September, so they are placed in large concrete holding ponds until that time.

     Each returning female contains from 4000-4500 eggs. We take approximately 2 million eggs each year. This requires the collection and spawning of 440-500 female salmon and an equal number of males.