The Waterwheel Hatchery planning and design contract will build out plans at a Shoshone Bannock owned property within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation. The Tribes Waterwheel property is a more suitable location within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall Reservation in a spring-fed complex along the Portneuf River; the ample availability of water and extent of the land parcel makes this location more desirable than the previously surveyed site at Crystal Springs.

The hatchery and associated releases will rear resident and anadromous fish to supplement harvest opportunities and increase conservation values associated with each species.  The Tribes are approaching anadromous fish production by implementing a pilot 'captive' Chinook program and outplanting up to 1,000,000 eyed-eggs in Panther Creek and Yankee Fork; consistent with existing supplementation actions in those systems.  Also, the Tribes will produce up to 30,000 catchable-sized Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout for harvest in confined fisheries within the Fort Hall Reservation and adjacent Tribal lands. Step 1 Master Plan Submittal was approved by the NPCC during the 2023 contract year.

With this approval the hatchery planning process during the 2024-25 contract year will focus on executing a fully signed Design/Construction MOA, advanced designs, environmental compliance, and Step 2-3 submittal.