Federal hydropower projects, as well as private power utility systems, have had a devastating impact upon anadromous fish resources that once flourished in the Columbia River and it's tributaries.  Several area have been blocked to anadromous fish by dams, destroying the primary food resource (salmon) for many native people; forcing them to rely heavily upon resident fish to replace these lost resources.  The Colville Tribal Fish Hatchery is an artificial production program that addresses the loss of anadromous fish resources in the Upper Columbia Sub-Region within the "blocked area" created by the construction of Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee Dams.  This project enhances resident fisheries located in the Intermountain and Columbia Cascade Provinces, specifically within the Colville Reservation portion of the Upper Columbia, San Poil and Okanogan Sub-Basins.  The project particularly mitigates for anadromous fish losses through protection/augmentation of resident fish ;populations to enhance fishery potential (i.e., in-place, out-of-kind mitigation).  The Colville Tribal Hatchery (CTH) is located on the northern bank of the Columbia River just down stream of the town of Bridgeport, Washington on land owned by the Colville Tribes.  The minimum production quota for this facility is 22,679 kg (50,000 lbs.) of trout annually.

All fish produced are released into reservation waters, including boundary waters, in an effort to provide a successful subsistence/recreational fishery for Colville Tribal members and provide for a successful non-member sport fishery.

The goal of the Colville Tribal Hatchery has always been to provide artificial enhancement of Reservation fisheries for both tribal subsistence fisheries and non member sport fisheries.   Whenever possible the goal has been to provide "carry-over" fisheries rather than "put-and-take" fisheries.

In 2009 the switch from coastal stocks of rainbow trout to native redband rainbow trout was completed.  Subsequently, with the exception of a small number of large triploid rainbow trout purchased from commercial aquaculture, the only rainbow trout planted into Reservation lakes and streams were redband rainbow trout which were the progeny of the stock maintained at the Colville Tribal Hatchery.  These fish did not meet production or harvest goals due to poor performance in both the hatchery and Reservation waters and production was discontinued.  The last of the redbands were planted in Reservation waters in the spring of 2012.  The hatchery obtained triploid rainbow trout eggs (Spokane stock) from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to use toward achieving production goals.  Although this stock has performed well in Reservation waters, eggs are not received into the hatchery until mid to late December which makes it impossible to mark and transport a portion of rainbow juveniles into the net pen project by May (contract begins).  Since Troutlodge is able to provide rainbow trout eggs throughout the year, the hatchery will receive feminized, triploid rainbow trout eggs in September so that marking will not delay fish from entering into the net pens.   After reviewing ISRP recommendations, management agrees, our goal is to provide subsistence and recreational fisheries while minimally impacting natural populations.

The primary goals of the 2013-2014 season are:
1. Transition to using Troutlodge feminized triploid rainbow trout eggs.  
2. Develop a Lake Management Plan for each reservation water body that identifies species, size and number to be stocked annually by the Resident Fish Hatchery. Continue to build on previous studies to determine the optimum size, number and stocking strategy for each water body.
3. Continue repairs, improvements and replacement where necessary of hatchery facilities and equipment.
4. Utilize hatchery production to provide successful fisheries in Reservation waters which includes lakes and streams:  North Twin, South Twin, Buffalo, Owhi, Omak, McGinnis, La Fleur, Bourgeau, Nicholas, Summit, Little Goose, Round, Elbow and Simpson, Nespelem, Mill, Lost and Hall.