ROXBURY, Vt. -
The state's oldest fish hatchery-- and the only state hatchery damaged by Tropical Storm Irene-- is looking to FEMA for help.
The Roxbury Fish Hatchery was flooded when the nearby Flint Brook went over its banks and tore through the nearly 125-year-old building. They lost 90 percent of the brook and rainbow trout they were taking care of and the floodwaters made a mess inside where fish eggs are hatched and reared. Damage estimates are still being tallied, but managers say they're looking at the flood as an opportunity for improvement.
"Basically if you look at the facility-- we're starting from scratch. So it's a good opportunity for the facility. It's been here for 125 years approximately. It hasn't seen this type of makeover in years," said Jeremy Whalen of Vt. Fish and Wildlife.
At its peak the hatchery produces 25,000 pounds of fish annually.
They hope to be up and running next year.
