By Leah Hromalik
Salmon River Fish Hatchery
The Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar is another important hatchery within driving distance of Syracuse. It is much farther north than Carpenter’s Brook and Oneida Hatchery, but it plays a major role in the Lake Ontario region. This hatchery raises Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead trout.
Unlike the other two hatcheries, Salmon River works with fish that spend part of their lives in large bodies of water and return to freshwater to reproduce. In the fall, adult salmon and steelhead return from Lake Ontario to the Salmon River. Hatchery workers collect eggs and milt from these returning fish. The eggs are then fertilized and raised at the hatchery until the young fish are ready to be released.
This hatchery is especially well known because visitors can sometimes watch the returning fish during the spawning season. Seeing large salmon and steelhead return upstream helps people understand the connection between the hatchery, the river, and Lake Ontario.
All three hatcheries help fish survive, but each has a different purpose. Carpenter’s Brook supports local trout fishing and education. Oneida Hatchery raises walleye, tiger muskellunge, and other fish connected to Oneida Lake and statewide programs. Salmon River Hatchery supports salmon and steelhead fishing in Lake Ontario. Together, these hatcheries show how careful fish management can help protect wildlife, support recreation, and teach people about the waters around Syracuse.
