Cowlitz River hatchery adds to science and visitor center

By Bianca Fortis
The Centralia Chronicle

As the last part of a $30 million overhaul of the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, Tacoma Public Utilities has completed a $481,000 remodel of the hatchery’s visitor center.

The grand opening of the center was last week.

Chris Gleason, the community and media services manager at Tacoma Public Utilities, said the hatchery had a welcome center before the remodeling, but it was outdated and visitors would often leave disappointed.

“We wanted to make this a destination where people will walk away informed, not disappointed,” Gleason said.

The focus of the center is an “interactive survival maze,” in which visitors can track the life cycle of salmon, which are represented by marbles.Read more