The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), along with Friends of the Mad River Hatchery and the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Program (WSP) will conduct free tours of the Mad River Hatchery on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and Wednesday, Feb. 15. The tours run from 8:30 to 11 a.m., with each lasting 30 minutes, regardless of weather.

Visitors to the hatchery can observe the entire process from the selection of specific adults for spawning to the final disposition of fertilized eggs in the hatchery egg incubation system.

Mad River's steelhead fishery is renowned and many sport anglers flock to its banks every season. For nearly three decades, the hatchery has played a vital role in enhancing the Mad River's winter steelhead population.

Nearly two years ago, the Mad River Hatchery closed after 34 years of service due to the ongoing state budget crisis. The hatchery reopened in late 2005 with the help of grassroots efforts by Friends of the Mad River Hatchery, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, local businesses, community members and concerned students.

Last year, the hatchery's steelhead spawning proved an enormous success. Nearly 351,000 eggs were fertilized and an estimated 255,428 survived. This year, DFG plans to fertilize about 210,000 eggs and expects to release at least 150,000, healthy steelhead yearlings into the Mad River watershed in the spring of 2007.