A cooperative project at the Sandpoint Fish Hatchery on Lakeshore Drive
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Pledge Your Support Today
Please choose from the following
tax–deductible donation levels:
- Bald Eagle ($5000+)
- Great Blue Heron ($2500)
- River Otter ($1000)
- Merganser ($500)
- Mountain Whitefish ($100)
- Dragonfly ($50)
- Mayfly ($25)
Please mail donations to:
WaterLife Discovery Center
c/o Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation
PO Box 2254
Boise, ID 83701-2254
www.ifwf.org
a 501(c)3 organization
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History of the WaterLife Discovery Center
The Sandpoint Fish Hatchery was built in 1909 by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game with partial funding from Bonner County sportsmen. The hatchery is located on the Pend Oreille River, near Sandpoint, Idaho.
Spring water from a neighboring property is piped underground to supply water for the hatchery and fish raceways. Because the water is too cold for efficient aquaculture, the hatchery has been used primarily as a summer redistribution facility for rainbow trout.
In the mid 1990s, Fish and Game met with concerned citizens and community groups to discuss options for the historic hatchery. The community wanted a place for people, young and old, to understand the role water plays in shaping
our environment. They needed a place to promote environmentally sound stewardship of our water resources. The idea for an outdoor aquatic education center began to develop.
Today, a partnership between Idaho Fish and Game, the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the local community is creating the WaterLife Discovery Center.