Big Qualicum Hatchery - Qualicum Beach BC Canada
N 49° 23.638 W 124° 36.975
10U E 382720 N 5472508
A fairly large hatchery that has been in operation since 1963.
Waymark Code: WM44AP
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 07/05/2008
Views: 96
This is a typical coastal Canadian hatchery with one difference. It is one of the few hatchery that not only controls the water flows through the hatchery but also the water temperature.
The Big Qualicum River is fed from Horne Lake, located about 11 kilometres from the hatchery. There, the river is closed off with a dam and pipes running out into the lake can take water from different depths to control the water temp of the river.
Species count released from the Big Qualicum Hatchery for 2006:
Chinook 4,062,570
Chum 18,945,756
Coho 1,434,470
Cutthroat 3,568
Steelhead 3,561
The Hatchery has a self guided walking tour and during fish spawning time, they have staff to answer questions.