Chehalis River Salmon and Trout Enhancement Facility.

The Chehalis River Hatchery is a salmonid enhancement facility operated by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, near Harrison Mills, BC. Over the past several years, it has become a favourite stop for us when travelling to destinations east of home. Our most-​recent visit was on the morning of 16 September 2014, on our way to a three-​night stay in Harrison Hot Springs.
We (two seniors, and daughter) did a self-​tour of the facility. Visitors are guided where to walk and not walk, by signage. Some paths alongside the inner juvenile salmon and trout rearing pens are for staff only. But in total area, there is much one can see and observe on the property.
Our late-​September timing was a touch late to see many adult fish — in the river, or in the portion of the river extending into the hatchery property itself. There were a few late-​entering chinook salmon in the hatchery stream portion, but otherwise, the earlier runs of salmon were over, and the salmonids that had returned to the facility (several species) had been processed (for hatchery broodstock, with eggs put down in the hatchery/​incubation facilities, or utilized in other nearby river enhancement efforts, and etc.). The juvenile rearing pens were well-​stocked with last year’s hatchery productions.
We had hoped to see more adult fish, it’s rather exciting when the river is alive with a large run. But we did get to see a few large chinook, all decked out in their bright, spawning colours, which was impressive to see. And touring the facility itself was as interesting as ever — checking out some of the juvenile rearing pens, talking with a staff person about the various operations, and all.
When we left, at the suggestion of the staff member I talked with, we went to view another area of the Chehalis River (an area just upstream of the Highway 7 bridge, adjacent the campsite area) where salmon had recently spawned. Standing on the bank of the river, you could observe the work that the salmon had done to clear gravel and sand to lay their eggs. This second part of our tour was sure well-​worth the stop. And the weather sure helped, it was a bright, sunny, and clear morning, the water of the river crystal-​clear, and the redds so easily-​observed.
For us, it was another much-​enjoyed, interesting, and worthwhile visit to the Chehalis Enhancement Facility, and this time, with the added ‘plus’ of seeing a little more of the Chehalis River itself.
A fine morning adventure!