The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is offering free tours of the Mad River Hatchery on Dec. 27. Tours will be provided every half hour from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. -- rain or shine -- with each tour lasting approximately thirty minutes. The general public is encouraged to attend.

The 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 fishable steelhead population.

Last year the Hatchery's spawning of steelhead resulted in 181,000 fish currently living at the hatchery that will be released this winter. This year about 300,000 eggs will be taken for fertilization and DFG's goal is to release at least 150,000 healthy steelhead yearlings into the Mad River watershed in the winter of 2009.

Attendees will be able to 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. Please join us for this fun and educational experience! Mad River Hatchery is located at 1660 Hatchery Road in Arcata.