HatcHERy — the Women of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Fish Hatcheries: Megan Crawford

Editor’s Note: This is a seven-part series from Colorado Parks and Wildlife celebrating the women dedicated to improving Colorado’s fish populations at CPW’s fish hatcheries. 

Meet Megan Crawford, a Hatchery Technician at Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery for the past four years. She grew up in Colorado and has a true passion for the outdoors. Megan is key to the hatchery’s annual aerial stocking operation, stocking up to 250,000 one-inch cutthroat trout by airplane into alpine lakes across Colorado. She believes that “good work ethic and a sense of pride in your job” are just a few ingredients for the recipe of success when working at a fish hatchery.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) employs 81 people across 19 fish hatcheries, seven of whom are women. CPW’s fish hatcheries stock nearly 90 million fish into Colorado’s waterways each year, supporting the state’s recreational fishing opportunities. This work is also critical to native fish recovery and conservation efforts, a responsibility CPW’s hatchery staff have proudly upheld since 1881.

From spawning fish eggs to leading school tours, driving fish stocking trucks, and hauling fish-filled backpacks on multi-mile backcountry treks, CPW hatchery staff work across the state to sustain Colorado’s fish populations. The job requires knowledge of aquatic and fish biology, a love of the outdoors, grit, and a sturdy pair of waders. While not everyone possesses all these qualities, CPW is fortunate to have these women who do.

Megan shared some words of wisdom and reflection after her years working to get Colorado’s fish soaring high and into streams during a Q&A:

What inspired you to begin working for a fish hatchery? 

I grew up in Colorado surrounded by all its beauty and wildlife. I always knew I wanted to be in a field where I worked outdoors and worked with wildlife in some way. After pursuing a degree in wildlife, I started working in the fields that interested me. Aquatics always interested me, but I had a passion for large mammals mostly. But life has a way of sending you in different directions, and I ended up in the hatchery section.

Talk about your career journey

I like being able to stock lakes and go into areas I might not have gotten to see otherwise.

I started as an Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspector Tech 1 for the Rifle Gap and Harvey Gap state parks. I did this job for six seasons in conjunction with a few seasons of work for the U.S. Forest Service and for the Bureau of Land Management. In 2020 I started as a temporary employee for the Rifle Falls Fish Hatchery. 

I really enjoy working in the hatchery section for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. I like being able to stock lakes and go into areas I might not have gotten to see otherwise. Participating in aerial stockings by airplane of cutthroat trout for our isolation unit has also been a lot of fun, albeit a lot of work. This job certainly has lots of challenges, but it is also enjoyable.

What drives your passion for continuing to work with fish?

I really enjoy being able to see a new country and feel like I am making an impact in our state through stocking fish.

What unique contributions do women bring to the workplace?

I think women bring much needed diversity to the hatcheries. They also bring in a unique way of problem solving and important outside perspectives that are valuable not only at the hatchery, but also throughout Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

What skills help you be successful?

I think a very good work ethic and a sense of pride in your job is needed for being successful in hatcheries. You have to want to do the job to enjoy this work. Almost everything here can be taught on the job to you, but an education is a valuable tool to have as well. A passion for wildlife and aquatics is also very important as well. 

What is your favorite and least favorite part of working at a fish hatchery?

I really enjoy working with my coworkers. They make this job for me! But I also really enjoy stocking fish and being able to talk with the public. Everyone is usually happy to see us bringing in fish, and that makes me happy. My least favorite part is that this job is very physical, and that can be very wearing on your body and mind at the end of the day.

What is something most people don’t know about your work?

I think most people don’t realize that we are fish farmers at heart. That is what we do at hatcheries. So most of the time we are caring for the fish in our unit. We do get to stock and get off the unit, but most of the time we are on unit caring for our fish. This can be as fun as you make it. But in reality most people don’t realize how much work we do just to get their fish to them.

What would you like to see in the future for Colorado Parks and Wildlife?

I’d like to see more women promoted into leadership positions in CPW and also hatcheries.

What do you want to communicate to other women who may be interested in working at a fish hatchery? 

Having a passion for wildlife and for wanting to make an impact in our state is what you will need for this job. This job can be challenging for sure and demanding in ways other positions will not be. But there is always something new to do and lots of situations that give you an opportunity to grow and be a problem solver. You will expand and gain knowledge that will be valuable to you for the rest of your career, whether it is with CPW or not. There’s such a variety of tasks to do in the hatchery section, and opportunities to learn while assisting other hatcheries as well. There is never a dull moment at this job, and you get to travel to some really gorgeous places in this state.

Written by Sarah Gump. Photos by Sarah Gump. Sarah is a Hatchery Technician III at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Durango Fish Hatchery.