MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites the public to attend two free open house events on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee and the Root River Steelhead Facility in Racine.
Root River Steelhead Facility Open House
The DNR will host an open house on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2200 Domanik Drive, Lincoln Park, Racine. This free, family-friendly event will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Wisconsin’s southernmost Lake Michigan trout and salmon egg collection facility.
Fish enthusiasts of all ages can join one of our guided tours to learn how DNR crews capture fish and why we need to collect trout and salmon eggs to raise in hatcheries for stocking into Lake Michigan. Volunteers from Salmon Unlimited, the Outdoor Heritage Education Center, Milwaukee Great Lakes Sport Fishermen, Southeast Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, and the Kenosha Sportfishing and Conservation Association will be offering fun, hands-on learning experiences through the Touch of the Wild Education Trailer, fly casting clinic, trolling boat display and more.
The Root River Steelhead Facility was built in the early 1990s to help the DNR more effectively manage Lake Michigan’s trout and salmon fishery. Each spring and fall, migrating rainbow trout (steelhead), Chinook and coho salmon enter the streams for their annual spawning ritual.
Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility Open House
Join the DNR on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an open house event at N3884 Ransom Moore Lane in Kewaunee. This free annual event will give attendees an opportunity to watch salmon egg collection demonstrations, enjoy educational displays, presentations and take a guided tour of the facility. The Algoma Kewaunee Great Lakes Sport Fishermen will be on hand to provide wagon rides to the facility from the parking area from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. People of all ages and backgrounds are invited and encouraged to attend.
The Besadny Anadromous Fish Facility is the first step in stocking trout and salmon in Lake Michigan. Returning adult trout and salmon are collected during their spawning run up the Kewaunee River to collect eggs to produce fish for stocking in the following year. Eggs from the facility are taken to other hatcheries to be raised and stocked back into Lake Michigan and its tributaries to support the Great Lakes sport fishery for years to come.
Learn more about these open houses and other upcoming events on the DNR’s Events calendar.
