Hatchery water flow delayed after flange crack discovered during valve work

A planned seasonal opening of water at a Mendocino County hatchery was delayed after staff discovered a crack in a pipeline flange while workers were preparing to open a newly installed valve.

Meeting participants reported that the Army Corps of Engineers contracted the valve replacement and a contractor installed the new hardware. Staff said the crack was found before the valve was fully opened; several bolts around the flange were loose. The contractor was contacted and scheduled to return to assess repairs and tighten bolts. County staff said they do not yet know whether the crack can be fully repaired on site.

Because the fracture prevents reliable water flow, the hatchery could not run its new filtration system and therefore could not begin water-quality testing. Staff estimated operations may be about a week behind schedule; the timeline for restarting depends on the contractor’s assessment and the success of any repairs.

Commissioners and staff described the hatchery program as educational and important to local schools and youth programs, and they noted concerns about staffing and funding for ongoing operations. The commission agreed to track the contractor’s follow-up and receive an update at the next meeting.

The commission did not take formal action on the incident at this meeting; staff said they will report back once the contractor inspects the flange and confirms whether the pipeline can be safely brought online.