The hatchery is one of the oldest, built in the Ozark foothills in northeast Arkansas due to the availability of cool gravity flow water from the world’s tenth largest spring and easy access to the railroad. Current programs involve the restoration of interjurisdictional fishes (paddlefish and sturgeon); recovery of endangered and threatened species including freshwater mussels; restoration of native fish populations; disease free rainbow trout in the Spring River drainage; and fishery management and stocking recreational fish and native fish species on national wildlife refuges.