RALEIGH — Just as many lives, businesses, landscapes and wildlife were impacted on Sept. 27, 2024, by Hurricane Helene as it ravaged through western North Carolina, one of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) fish hatcheries, the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County, was nearly destroyed.
“Thankfully our amazing staff survived and are safe,” said Hatchery Production Supervisor David Deaton in a news release. “But there was major damage to the facility from the flooding and landslides. Over 600,000 hatchery fish died, which severely impacted our trout production capabilities.”
Armstrong has been temporarily closed while repairs are being made to damaged infrastructure and facility roads, and while cleanup from debris deposition continues.
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