Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery
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| Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery | |
|---|---|
| Location | 2125 Denby Drayton Plains, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°40′17.3″N 83°22′27.4″W / 42.671472°N 83.374278°W |
| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Built | 1903 |
| Designated | August 24, 1984 [1] |
The Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery was the second fish hatchery opened by the State of Michigan Department of Natural Resources (previously known as the Michigan Conservation Department). It was established in 1903 and originally named Drayton Plains Station. The name was officially changed to Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery in 1934.[2]
The Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery was opened along the Clinton River on Mill Street (later Hatchery Road) in what was then Drayton Plains, Michigan (now Waterford Township).[3] Its purpose was to raise bass fingerlings on its 18-acre site.
The Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery was listed as a Michigan Historic Site on August 24, 1984.[4]
In the late 1920s, sportfishing was well established as a leisure time activity in Michigan. As a result, fish production moved away from food fish and focused on sport fish species including, brown trout, rainbow trout and brook trout along with many warm-water species. Most Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries work on the Great Lakes was abandoned as these fisheries were dominated by commercial fishing. Hatchery technology had improved by this time to allow the production of larger fish and the time period from 1930-1949 is considered the Fingerling Era.[5]
In 1962, operations at the Drayton Plains State Fish Hatchery ended after nearly 60 years.[6]
As of 2016, there were six state fish hatcheries in operation in Michigan:[7]
- Harrietta State Fish Hatchery in Harrietta, Michigan (opened in 1901).
- Marquette State Fish Hatchery in Marquette, Michigan (opened in 1920).
- Oden State Fish Hatchery in Alanson, Michigan (opened in 1921).
- Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Manistique, Michigan (opened in 1922).
- Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, Michigan (opened in 1927).
- Platte River State Fish Hatchery in Beulah, Michigan (opened in 1928).
