New Mexico Air National Guard Helps Give Historic California Fish Hatchery New Purpose

Airmen from the 210th RED HORSE Squadron traveled to Orick, California, to work on the historic Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery at Redwood National Park.

Source: 150th Special Operations Wing (via Facebook)
Photos: Courtesy

Members of the New Mexico Air National Guard recently traded their home state for California’s redwood country, spending a week helping renovate a 90-year-old fish hatchery that is being transformed into a community educational center.

Airmen from the 210th RED HORSE Squadron traveled to Orick, California, to work on the historic Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery at Redwood National Park.

The former hatchery is being renovated to preserve the history of the site while providing a place where future visitors can learn about its original purpose.

The project also provided the Airmen with hands-on construction experience designed to strengthen their readiness for future deployments.

Training Through Community Service

The work is part of the Redwoods Innovative Readiness Training project, which brings military training together with projects that benefit communities.

The effort includes personnel and organizations from the Air National Guard, Army National Guard, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve Command, Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation and National Park Service.

For members of the 210th RED HORSE Squadron, the project provided an opportunity to practice construction skills while working alongside personnel from other military branches and partner organizations.

That collaboration helps participants strengthen skills and teamwork that can later be applied during deployments and other missions.

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Preserving a Different Kind of Landmark

At Prairie Creek, that training is also helping extend the life of a historic site.

Rather than returning the 90-year-old facility to operation as a fish hatchery, the renovation is giving the property a new role as an educational center where its history and original purpose can be preserved and shared.

The project offers a practical example of how military readiness training can serve purposes beyond the training exercise itself — providing experience for participating Airmen while helping preserve a community landmark for future generations.