“Thankfully our staff are safe,” said Hatchery Production Supervisor David Deaton, noting Armstrong has been closed for repairs and cleanup but returned to partial operations in spring. Full operations are expected by November.

Armstrong’s recovery is critical as renovations at the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery — the state’s largest trout producer — were paused until Armstrong can provide additional support. Renovations at Setzer, slated to begin by January 2026, will be funded by $20 million from the General Assembly and $19.5 million in agency funds to replace aging infrastructure and guard against future flooding.

“Setzer has failing infrastructure that needs replacement before a potentially major failure,” Deaton said. Despite delays, NCWRC continues to manage mountain waters and stocking programs, supporting a trout fishing industry worth $1.38 billion to North Carolina.