A power outage caused by a vehicle collision, combined with a backup system failure, has resulted in a massive fish die-off at the Fish Springs Trout Hatchery near Big Pine. Both the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) have confirmed details of the May 20 incident, which could impact recreational fish stocking across the Eastern Sierra for the next two seasons. The hatchery—operated by CDFW—lost electricity after a vehicle struck a power pole in the Owens Valley. … While Fish Springs is equipped with diesel backup motors designed to continue pumping water during outages, a software malfunction rendered the motors inoperable at the time. … CDFW estimates that between 75 to 80 percent of the hatchery’s fish stock—ranging from eggs and fingerlings to catchable-size trout—was lost during the outage. The hatchery raises rainbow trout, brown trout, and Lahontan cutthroat trout, which are vital to recreational fishing in Inyo and Mono County waters.

Related articles:

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: News release: Statement on May 20 power outage at the Fish Springs Trout Hatchery​
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: News release: Power outage causes failure at Eastern Sierra hatchery​