During Hurricane Helene, nearly 600,000 trout died at the Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County due to compromised water quality from landslides and flooding, resulting in the need for extensive repairs and rebuilding. The hatchery is responsible for stocking trout in an 11-county region in Western North Carolina, and the damage is expected to impact future trout stocking. Despite the loss, the flooding caused by the hurricane may lead to a larger spawn of wild trout in the region in the near future.
Full Article