Focused winds near 70 mph dug a path of destruction through the grounds at Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery on Sunday, June 11, 2023. The hatchery had 60 trees downed and 1,000 feet of fence totaled as the sub-tornado barreled through the middle of the hatchery and creek recreational areas. Priority recovery tasks were completed in four weeks. Still, smaller repair projects were left to be completed via contracting, hatchery staff, or partners depending on the type of repair funding that could be obtained.
Once funding and repair options were explored, the decision was made to perform a low-cost hatchery staff repair effort to minimize cost considering the age and condition of the remaining fence. Based on quotes from local companies, estimated savings for a staff repair were $35,000 or more, not including potential contracting overhead costs. Though the repair would take longer to complete, it was worth the wait when compared to the potential cost. Thanks to hatchery staff, the project was completed in late 2024.
Repair summary:
- 1024’ of 9 gauge 6’ chain link fence (standard 2” mesh)
- 800’ of top-rail
- 36 Vertical poles (leaving the viable poles intact
- Fasteners for 8 anchor pole attachment points
- Cement
The station salvaged as much of the existing material as possible to save on repair costs. Approximately 800 feet of damaged fence line had to be fully replaced with spot repairs on the other 200 feet. Demolition materials were recycled and repurposed wherever possible. Demo, pole replacement, material acquisition, and installation labor were around 40 work hours with a final product of the same quality as the rest of the current station perimeter fence.
