Eggs return to Crystal Lake Hatchery, as construction continues

There are new salmon eggs in the incubators of Crystal Lake hatchery, although the facility is undergoing reconstruction.

The hatchery, which is located at the 17.5 mile marker of Mitkof Highway, suffered a devastating fire in March with the loss of 1.2 - 1.3 million eggs, valued at around $1 million.

Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association manages the hatchery, and on Tuesday returned eggs to the incubator here. The eggs came in from the Whitman Lake facility also run by SSRA.

“Construction is ongoing, we're happy with that,” said SSRAA Production Manager Bill Gass. “We had enough...