From Deseret News archives:
Whirling disease hits Springville hatchery
Facility closed as contamination returns to site
"It's better we shut down, decontaminate and wait for a clean water supply," said Tim Miles, fish culture supervisor for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The closing eliminates the risk of spreading the disease.
Roughly 6,000 pounds of fish, which translates to about 60,000 4-inch trout, will be destroyed. None of the fish from the contaminated pond were stocked in Utah waters.
Whirling disease was first found in the hatchery's middle pond two years ago. Two other ponds were being fed by separate water supplies and continued to grow fish.
"Every six months we test hatcheries in those areas where whirling disease is found. Six months ago the Springville ponds tested negative. This week we tested 60 fish from each of the two ponds and one fish tested positive," said Miles.
"Rather than risk the disease getting into the third pond," he said, "we decided to kill the fish and wait."
The Legislature appropriated $2.5 million in its last session for water-supply renovation in the Springville ponds.
The new system will involve drilling a 500-foot test well to reach a confined aquifer that is free of whirling disease. Once the well has been dug, test fish will be placed in the water and periodically checked.
Miles said it would take about a year before the hatchery will be back in operation.
The drills are about 100 feet down.
The same thing is being done at the Midway Hatchery, which was hit with whirling disease in 2000. Several wells were dug before a clean water supply was found.
The Midway Hatchery is expected to be back in full operation next May.
Miles said the DWR is planting about a million pounds of fish per year, and that the 6,000 pounds lost at Springville will be made up by increased production at renovated hatcheries, such as Kamas, Mammoth Creek and the Whiterock Hatchery, which is being dedicated this week.
The new Whiterock facility will produce about 130,000 pounds of fish a year when in full operation.
Miles said finding the disease in a second pond at Springville was not a surprise. "We felt certain it would eventually spread. It was good while it lasted, but now we need to shut down and clean up," he added.
- Photos: Season of sharing, giving 10:38 p.m.
- Correction: town hall meetings 10:35 p.m.
- Cache dad accused of killing baby 10:34 p.m.
- S.L. police seek 3 for home invasion 10:34 p.m.
- Fighting macular degeneration 10:34 p.m.
- Lehi woman hurt in ATV wreck 10:33 p.m.
- Weber to host ethics debate 10:32 p.m.
- 3 jailed after pot is found in home 10:32 p.m.
- Woman who fell to death identified 10:30 p.m.
- Utahns prove love for Twilight 10:30 p.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Is talking about religion taboo?
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
212 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
195 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
132 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
131 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
130 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
105 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Associated Press Personal Finance Writer Candice Choi offers gift-giving...
What a mess has been made of this trust by the court appointed administrator....
"while some of these cases involve law enforcement posing as teenagers..."...
Me too...but Oregon is gonna beat OSU and be in the Rose Bowl...
"In the late '60s and early '70s in Southern California they were worried...
Just got back from Seattle. I have read every comment above, and agree with...
just play the combinations that will win. Keep the right combos on the floor...
Olympus 28 - Skyline 14! huge upset and one of the biggest rivalries in the...
If temples cause such problems why is it that real estate values always go up...
lets not get too carried away. these predictions are based upon last year......
Been reading the posts on DNEWS for about a year and here is my perspective....

