Dry Run Creek is a special resource that we have adjacent to the hatchery. The creek which is aptly named is totally dependent for its water resource from the discharge from the hatchery. That water also provides for the Norfork river at its confluence both a adequate quality of water and nutrient to that short tail water system.

It allows use for fishing acitivity only for persons under the age of 16, and for disabled anglers. Fishing is permitted here with "artificials" only. And, it is strictly catch and release.

It is the most perfect place we have on the entire White River system to introduce our younger generation to the fun of fishing and the opportunity to catch one of the trophy trout that are found there.

Above is a photo of the plaque with the list of the original patrons and donors for the first structure at DRC.

The initial construction
at Dry Run was
provided with funds from those listed here on the plaque which is present today at the hatchery, at a cost of $90,000.

Split down the middle, Dry Run Creek is the property of the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the west side and the Corps of Engineers on the east. This being the case, we are permitted as the Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery to raise funding for the improvements of access to all users at the creek. Currently access is limited. Construction of additional access will be done under the guidelines given by Ken Boyles, hatchery manager, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Here we see the original access at the lower end of DRC. Other

than the means of wheel chair access to the side of the river there is no further means other than to climb the structure to access the river to fish. The plan of action here is to open

up the existing structure to allow for access at both ends to ground level and to remove sections of the frontage to allow for adequate fishing access for users confined to wheel chairs and all others.

Looking downstream to your left of the picture, the access from the existing structure will be constructed in such a way as to allow for wheel chair access to a boardwalk at stream side level.

Under the requirements of USFW for this construction, provided the boardwalk is within the set standards there is no requirement to install a high level fencing. Lower level timber is used to restrict a wheel chair from running off the edge, and

sufficient room for a user to make a turnaround when a wheel chair is used.

The structure will have at given points along its length further construction

that allows the user to be more or less right on the stream side edge.

You can clearly see here, that at this time adequate access is very limited for disabled persons to use this resource.

Our aim is to have constructed from the existing structure a boardwalk for the entire length which is around 650 ft to a point above the 3rd discharge pipe.

There is certainly some ways that we can improve the habitat here for the fish over and above what is now present, additional rock structure to provide for some deeper water

holding zones, around the discharge pipes and in some cases more mid stream in the shallow water zones.

Estimated costs: The DRC will be a large and costly project. It is

envisaged that we will construct the new access in stages as funding allows, unless of course we are able to establish a major source of funding for the work to be undertaken as a whole.

At this point in time, if you are aware of any business that you feel we may contact for some preliminary costs, please contact Ken or myself regarding this.

I look forward to the future of this very worthwhile project at Dry Run Creek.

Davy Wotton
President
Friends of the Norfork National Fish Hatchery