About the Fish Hatchery
Discover Our History
Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery
The Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery, stewarded by The Riedman Foundation, has supported regional fisheries, environmental education, and community engagement since 1933. Originally established through a partnership between the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and Monroe County, the Hatchery raises brown and rainbow trout using responsible propagation practices that contribute to sustainable fisheries and healthy aquatic ecosystems.
Since 2003, The Riedman Foundation has provided 100% of the funding for staffing, maintenance, operations, and capital improvements. Open year-round, the Hatchery gives visitors the opportunity to observe approximately 15,000 brown and rainbow trout in various stages of development.
The Hatchery serves as an accessible educational resource for schools, families, and community groups, offering hands-on learning about fish biology, conservation, and water stewardship. Longstanding traditions—such as the annual trout derby—continue to strengthen the community’s connection to Powder Mills Park.
Best of all, it’s free to visit and open year-round. Guests of all ages are welcome to enjoy an educational and interactive experience — and can even feed the fish! Just be sure to bring quarters for the on-site food dispensers.
Staffed Hours:
Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Hatchery grounds are open to the public during all park hours.
For more information about the benefit derby and other activities, call (585) 586-1670.
History Highlights
1930
The Powder Mill property was sold to Monroe County for the development of a county park.
1933
The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park was established in 1933 as a cooperative the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and Monroe County.
1933
Wayne Harris, a Rochester attorney and conservationist, along with Elmer Wagner, former Department of Conservation wildlife biologist, spearheaded the formation of the Powder Mills Hatchery Preservation, Inc. to give financial support to the Monroe County operations of the Hatchery for 9 years.
2002-2003
The Fish Hatchery was closed for a period due to funding limitations but reopened when The Riedman Foundation entered into a partnership with the County to provide operational support and capital improvements for the Hatchery.
Today
Without hatchery facilities such as the Powder Mills Hatchery, trout populations would not have returned to Irondequoit Creek.
About the Annual Trout Derby
The Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery’s Annual Trout Derby is a longstanding community tradition that introduces children and families to fishing, outdoor recreation, and environmental stewardship. Hosted with the support of The Riedman Foundation, the Derby provides a safe, educational, and welcoming environment for youth to experience fishing and engage with nature.
The event encourages hands-on learning about fish, aquatic habitats, and responsible angling while fostering appreciation for Powder Mills Park’s natural resources. To ensure broad community access, the Derby charges a nominal $5 participation fee for individuals ages 9 and older, while children age 8 and under participate free of charge.
The Derby also offers exciting incentives to enhance participation, including a $500 cash first-place prize generously supported by Bank of America, four-hour boat charters, and numerous additional prizes and resources donated by community partners. The Annual Trout Derby remains one of the Hatchery’s most visible and impactful programs, strengthening community ties, encouraging outdoor recreation, and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Kiosk
The kiosk offers interpretive panels that provide valuable insight on the rich history of the fish hatchery, its role in sustaining species of trout within the Irondequoit Creek fishery, the operation of the hatchery through the seasons of the year and educational information on the fish themselves. The kiosk provides visitors with a better understanding of the reason for its existence, the importance of its location and the vital role it plays in sustaining the population of trout in our local waterways.
The Riedman Foundation, in conjunction with the Pittsford Chamber of Commerce and the Pittsford Rotary, held a ribbon cutting on November 2, 2018 to unveil a new kiosk at the Powder Mills Park Fish Hatchery.
