If you had been used to taking your kids or grandkids to the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery Pond Visitor Center in Warsaw for a day of fishing, that opportunity dried up. As of May 1 the Hatchery and Visitors and Center have made some changes.

According to a news release from the Missouri Department of Conservation, (MDC) the MDC is altering the center to better serve the public and to broaden outreach programs. According to the report the changes will not affect production of freshwater fish at the hatchery, which provides species such as walleye and channel catfish to stock in the state’s lakes and ponds.

The visitor center exhibit area will be repurposed for outdoor education classes to the public. The MDC is planning to hold classes to teach newcomers the basics of fishing and hunting or about nature in Missouri.

The youth fishing pond at Lost Valley will remain as an outdoor classroom for teaching angling skills or for hosting special events, such as a youth fishing day.  As of May 1 the pond is no longer open for daily public youth fishing.  lt will now only be used for education or special events. The Lost Valley building will no longer serve as a visitor center, permit sales, or retail nature shop.

With these changes made by the Missouri Department of Conservation, it will free the MDC community education assistant based at Lost Valley to conduct conservation programs in Warsaw and surrounding communities.

The facility had been closed since last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Gallery Credit: Katherine Gallagher

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