The Missouri Department of Conservation is pleased to announce that construction is set to resume on the Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery Renovation project. The Department is working directly with Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company on the completion of the project. Philadelphia has selected Crossland Construction to lead the completion work. The Department has issued its notice to proceed to Philadelphia but anticipates it may take a few weeks for Crossland and other subcontractors to fully mobilize. We appreciate the public’s support and patience as we work to complete this important hatchery renovation project for Missourians.
Construction is underway on this multi-year, $40 million renovation of the Missouri Department of Conservation hatchery at Bennett Spring State Park. This project includes a new intake structure, reconstruction of the raceways, a new office, water quality improvements, and other upgrades and refurbishments that will improve fish production and site resiliency.
Even with construction, anglers are still reeling in trout at the park. MDC staff continue to stock the stream several times each week for excellent fishing even while construction is in full swing. A big reason fishing and construction have been co-existing at Bennett Spring this summer is because of the connectivity of MDC’s cold-water hatchery system. Bennett Spring Hatchery normally produces up to 450,000 trout annually from egg to fingerling size and stocks 325,000 in the park’s waters each year. The reason there are still trout to catch at Bennett Spring – despite the reduction in fish production at the hatchery with construction – is that MDC’s other cold-water hatcheries in the state have picked up the slack. The bulk of the trout for this summer’s fishing has come from MDC’s Montauk Hatchery (Dent County), from MDC’s Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery (Taney County), and from privately-owned hatcheries.
Bennett Spring is one of four trout parks managed by the Department. Additional trout park angling opportunities are available at Roaring River, Montauk and Maramec Spring. Lake Taneycomo and the Trout Special Management Areas and the Winter Trout Program provide additional angling opportunities across the state. Additional information can be found here:
Trout: Special Area Regulations | Missouri Department of Conservation
What is the timeline on the construction and when will it be done?
The work will take up to 18 months with construction expected to be completed by December 2027.
Who is Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company and why are they involved?
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company is the surety that issued the payment and performance Bond for the Bennett Spring Fish Hatchery Renovation project. Philadelphia has agreed to correct and complete Cahills Construction’s work on the project.
If Philadelphia is in an agreement with MDC to correct and complete Cahills’ work, how is Crossland Construction involved?
Philadelphia selected Crossland Construction to serve as the completion contractor.
Does MDC anticipate that Crossland Construction’s charges to Philadelphia will exceed the remaining unpaid contract amount?
Yes, but Philadelphia has agreed to pay Crossland Construction for the excess completion costs, provided the entire unpaid contract balance is paid by MDC.
What is happening up by the park entrance behind the blue gate?
Part of the project is construction of a bulk feed tower at Bennett Spring. This will allow the Department to receive large feed deliveries and staff will not have to handle small bags of feed each day. The footprint of the hatchery in the park is very compact and this location allows for easy access by hatchery staff and a more convenient location for deliveries.
How will we continue to provide a fishing opportunity?
To meet the stocking needs at Bennett, hatchery staff will haul fish from Montauk and Shepherd of the Hills and coordinate deliveries from a private producer to stock directly into the spring branch 2-3 times during the week, dependent upon projected tag sales. Stocking will occur after the siren ends fishing for the day.
How are you stocking if there is no water in the hatchery to hold fish / why don’t you have fish in the hatchery runs?
Fish are being brought in from Shepherd of the Hills and Montauk hatcheries. Stocking is taking place two or three times per week, dependent upon number of anglers. All zones are being stocked after the evening siren. Fish are being spread evenly throughout the park and all fishing zones. A major component of this project is to repair the intake to the facility. In order to do that work, all water coming into the hatchery has been diverted and that is why there is no water in that hatchery pools.
Have you and how much have you reduced the stocking rate since you are not stocking nightly?
The stocking rate for the 2026 season is 1.8 fish/tag sold. Hatchery staff plan estimated visitation off historical tag sales, anticipated weather, etc., to estimate the number of fish needed for the week. We are not stocking nightly but the number of fish being stocked into the park each week would be the same as totals from planned nightly stockings.
