Nebraskaland

46 Nebraskaland • November 2024 ConstrucƟ on and Expansion With construction well underway in 1926, Harry Runion was appointed superintendent to Rock Creek along with running the nearby Benkelman hatchery. A facility with the capacity for hatching several million trout eggs a year was built, along with a residence for a caretaker, a barn, several small holding ponds and other buildings. New ponds were in the works to be built as there were more fi sh that could be hatched than there were nursery ponds to put them in. The Bureau purchased 87 more acres of land for Rock Creek hatchery in 1927 for $6,500. An icehouse and a new road were built along with more nursery ponds. By the summer of 1927, 42,000 largemouth bass fi ngerlings had been raised in the small pond, supporting the idea that conditions at the hatchery were ideal for both bass and trout rearing. But the Bureau sought even more success. At the time, there were few facilities available to hold fry and raise them to a larger size prior to stocking. It was estimated that only about 5% of trout raised ever reached maturity or were available for anglers to catch. The Bureau's plan was to keep the fi sh in the nursery ponds from spring to fall so they had time to grow into fi ngerlings and increase their chances of survival. They would distribute less fry and more fi ngerling-sized fi sh to Nebraska's lakes and streams, which meant more rearing ponds and nurseries were needed. Rock Creek would help this policy by building more ponds for trout and bass, but more were needed to satisfy the growing demand of fi sh by anglers. To help supply fi ngerling fi sh, private fi sh culture was encouraged by the Bureau. Chapters of the Izaak Walton League built nursery ponds and were a big supporter of raising the larger fi sh. The goal was to have excellent trout fi shing in approximately 65 streams across western and northwestern Nebraska. By 1929, four new ponds were added at Rock Creek, a bridge was constructed across the creek leading to the hatching ponds and several retaining walls were built on the ponds. Three concrete spillways were constructed, and sewer pipe was laid. A modern fi sh hatchery was constructed for $6,000 in 1930. At the time, this was one of the most up-to- date hatching houses in the country and had the capacity to hatch 1.5 million eggs. The old hatch house was then turned into a residence for hatchery staff . The hatchery was said to have 31 ponds of varying sizes from the small nursery ponds to the main lake that took up 16 acres on the property. A vehicle drives through the entrance to Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery near Benkelman, circa 1940s. The text on this postcard reads: "State Fish Hatchery, Benkelman, Nebr." NGPC LIBRARY

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