U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service
Neosho National Fish Hatchery Newsletter
Current Events in Fish
Production
Helping the Missouri
Department of Conservation
Hatcheries Boost Fish
Production Numbers
Despite poor water quality and
low production numbers
elsewhere in the state, Neosho
National Fish Hatchery’s rainbow
trout are fairing well. Neosho
staff delivered 10,000 surplus
trout to the Missouri Department
of Conservation’s Roaring River
State Park in Cassville. Missouri
Department of Conservation’s
Shepherd of the Hills State Fish
Hatchery in Branson is currently
experiencing warmer-than-
average water temperatures and
reduced water quality. Neosho
staff brought 18,000 surplus trout
in hopes of helping the state
hatchery buffer their losses.
Neosho staff helping Missouri
Department of Conservation load
trout onto stocking trailer.
First Stocking of the 2009
Fiscal Year Mitigation
Commitment
Continuing the reciprocity and
cooperative agreement between
Missouri Department of
Conservation and Neosho
National Fish Hatchery, Shepherd
October 2008
of the Hills State Fish Hatchery
picked up 5,800 rainbow trout
from Neosho and stocked them
into Lake Taneycomo. By the end
of November, 12,000 more of
Neosho’s rainbow trout will be
stocked into Lake Taneycomo.
Endangered Pallid Sturgeon
Broodstock Arriving
Neosho staff are excited to have
endangered pallid sturgeon brood
stock on station this winter. Thus
far, Neosho has received 6
healthy, wild-caught adult pallids
from the Missouri Department of
Conservation. All sturgeon
received new PIT tags, which
means they have not been
captured in previous spawning
events.
Neosho biologists administering PIT
tag to pallid sturgeon.
This is yet another project that
highlights our appreciation of and
continued fantastic working
relationship with Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Neosho hopes to receive more
adult pallids from the Missouri
River thanks to the field work of
US Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Fisheries Resource Office in
Columbia, Missouri and Missouri
Department of Conservation.
Missouri Department of
Conservation’s Jake Colehour
transfers an adult pallid sturgeon to
Neosho’s stocking tank.
Fish Health Inspection at
Neosho
Last week, Ken Phillips from La
Crosse Fish Health Center in
LaCrosse, Wisconsin visited the
hatchery for our biannual fish
health inspection. He inspected
all strains of rainbow trout and
collected samples for bacterial and
viral analysis. Our newest
biologist, Melissa Cheung,
enjoyed observing and assisting
when needed in the routine fish
health data collection.
Genetics samples of the wild-
caught adult pallid sturgeon on
station were also taken. These
will help us determine if each fish
is a true pallid or a hybrid
individual. Knowing the genetics
of each individual will also
prevent inbreeding when the fish
are paired for spawning.
Ken Phillips from La Crosse Fish
Health Center visits Neosho.

Neosho National Fish Hatchery Newsletter
Community Activities
Spending Time with the
Local Community Rain or
Shine!
Neosho National Fish Hatchery
made it out to Barnyard Days, a
three day arts and crafts fair
located on the edge of town.
Despite strong wind and some
rain, the annual fair attracted a
good turnout from the local
community and surrounding
towns. Children and adults were
attracted to our hatchery display
by the live trout tank, free fish
tattoos, coloring books, pencils
and educational pamphlets.
Hatchery staff answered many
questions regarding the hatchery’s
fish production and historic past
in downtown Neosho.
Neosho’s lead biologist, Jaime
Pacheco at our information booth.
Halloween at the YMCA
This year, hatchery staff
celebrated Halloween at the local
YMCA. Families from the local
community were invited to a fun-
filled educational and recreational
event. Hatchery staff were asked
to judge the children’s costume
contest. Alongside indoor games
and activities for all ages, a booth
was set up complete with a life-
size model of a paddlefish,
educational video about the
hatchery, and our very own
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
October 2008
hatchery mascot Teddy the Trout.
Children and adults of all ages
were encouraged to ask questions
and take home our educational
stickers, postcards, and coloring
books.
Networking to Create Better
Programs for Children in
Nature
Assistant Manager Roderick May
was invited to the Aquatic
Resources Education Association
conference in Corpus Christi,
Texas from October 17th-21st.
The forum was created to allow
state, federal, and private
organizations to discuss ideas and
experience getting children back
in touch with nature. Meeting
with outreach coordinators from
across the U.S., Rod was able to
share his knowledge base and
experience working with children.
The feedback and networking he
gained will contribute to our
educational hatchery programs
with local school districts and
visitors. Rod plans to develop a
summer program based around an
outdoor classroom at our hatchery
and is working with the Joplin
school district on nature-based
curricula. He is also looking
forward to sharing nature-based
programs at the Neosho library.
Hatchery Improvements
A Well Deserved Makeover
Hatchery improvements are an
ongoing task here at Neosho. Part
of this month’s projects involved
replacing the siding and gutters of
the hatchery’s main building and
shop. The older siding, made of
wood, was rotting away and
needed to be replaced. Our new
aluminum siding was completed
by a local contractor and his staff.
Thanks to their hard work, two of
our most visible buildings
received a much needed face lift.
The new look will last longer,
creates less long-term
maintenance, and enhances the
aesthetics of the hatchery.
New siding and gutters on the main
building.
View of the new and improved shop.
In with the New, Out with the
Old
Neosho is trying a new way to
feed the pallid sturgeon. Our old
system consisted of a five gallon
bucket containing water and a
frozen slab of adult brine shrimp.
The food was administered to the
tank once the slab thawed. This
system worked well during the
summer months, when air and
water temperatures are warmer.
However, during the winter
months, the method was
inefficient. The extended amount
of time required for the slab of
food to thaw created a challenge
for us because we feed the
sturgeon three times a day.
The new system is a very simple
floating cage constructed of a
PVC frame (12”x18”) with a
 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Neosho National Fish Hatchery Newsletter October 2008

plastic, ¼ inch mesh screen
bottom. The new floating cage
allows us to use the entire radiant
heat of the 6’x24’ tank, rather
than a five gallon bucket. This
system allows for rapid thawing
of the feed and decreases the time
involved for multiple feedings a
day. The food falls directly into
the water, drifting with the micro-
currents in the recirculating tanks.

Our new feed baskets being used in

the sturgeon tanks.

Please feel free to visit us at

520 E Park Street, Neosho, MO
64850 or call us at 417-451-
0554.