Brief Power Outage at Iron Gate Fish Hatchery; No Impact on Fish

HORNBROOK, Calif. – The Iron Gate Fish Hatchery experienced a power disconnection on Monday due to several months of unpaid electricity bills, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officials.

Peter Tira, a spokesperson for CDFW, confirmed the incident. “The power disconnection was brief and no fish were affected, as the hatchery is currently decommissioned,” Tira said in a statement.

The power outage, which Pacific Power implemented after the prolonged non-payment, was attributed to a clerical error within the department. Pacific Power’s standard procedure typically includes providing customers with at least eight days’ notice before disconnecting service for non-payment.

While the Iron Gate facility faced the outage, the nearby Fall Creek Hatchery, a state-of-the-art facility raising endangered species, remained operational. Fall Creek’s backup power systems ensured uninterrupted service throughout the incident.

The Iron Gate Fish Hatchery, known for its role in salmon and steelhead conservation, is currently closed to the public. CDFW officials stated they are reviewing their administrative processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Pacific Power has since restored electricity to the Iron Gate facility after the resolution of the payment issue. The company declined to comment on individual customer accounts when reached for statement.

Local groups have expressed concern about the incident, emphasizing the importance of maintaining infrastructure even for temporarily closed facilities. However, CDFW assures that no wildlife was harmed as a result of the brief power outage.