As the Willow fire that’s burning in Lake County threatened the Leadville National Fish Hatchery – the oldest in the state and in operation since 1889, wildlife officials had to act quickly to save a mind-boggling number of fish.

The Willow fire started on June 28 and it’s since grown to 7,184 acres with 41 percent containment, as of July 20. A day after it sparked near the hatchery, complex manager Josh Homer was already finalizing a fish evacuation plan.

With rare species like the cutthroat trout among fish that had to be safely moved, federal and state crews were able to evacuate more than 148,000 fish over the next three days after the plan was finalized. Fish were netted by hand and transferred to transport trucks to be driven to carefully selected hatcheries and waters around the state.

It’s also worth noting that greenbacks at the facility were a critical broodstock – one of only two that Colorado Parks and Wildlife relies on for the species’ recovery effort.

  “If we were to lose that stock, it would have been detrimental to the future survival of this species, period,” Homer said. “I trust CPW implicitly to do what’s best for these fish.”

  “Everything was labeled and everything was moved purposefully to their new homes,” said Mount Shavano Hatchery manager Brian Johnson.

Amid the pressure of a growing blaze, crews had to keep species separate to protect genetics while also coordinating to get fish moved to places they could thrive. Fish went to Mount Shavano State Fish Hatchery, Roaring Judy State Fish Hatchery, John W. Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility, Durango State Fish Hatchery, Twin Lakes, Mount Elbert Forebay, Hayden Meadows reservoirs, Iowa Gulch, the Arkansas River, and the Joe Wright Reservoir.

re going to do whatever it takes to keep these fish healthy,” Johnson said.

Per the latest map published on Watch Duty, it appears as if the Leadville-area hatchery remains outside of the Willow Fire perimeter. The plan will be to return many fish to the hatchery once the blaze is no longer a threat.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)