Crystal Lake Fish Hatchery

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Crystal Lake Hatchery lies in eastern Shasta County, off Highway 299 East. First travel nine miles east of the town of Burney, then three miles south from the highway intersection.



Crystal Lake Hatchery, formerly known as Burney Creek Hatchery was built in 1927 on the Burney Creek arm of Lake Britton. The hatchery’s original goal was to produce trout fingerlings for several local counties. Unable to meet fishing needs as California's population grew, this small hatchery relocated to its present site in 1947. As the state's first major project financed by California Wildlife Conservation Board, the new location provides critical land and water resources. For successful hatchery programs, selected sites must supply high water flows and constant water temperatures.

After Crystal Lake Hatchery expanded and modernized their facilities in 1976, they became one of the state's largest hatcheries. Today they not only produce trout to assist in the maintenance of the Eagle Lake fishery; they also raise Chinook salmon for the State Inland Fishery Program. In addition, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout are distributed to local bodies of water
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