A Complex Challenge: How Sprague Protected a Fish Hatchery from Persistent Bird Pressure

Custom netting, thoughtful engineering, and collaborative problem-solving showcase Sprague’s ability to deliver specialized solutions in unique environments.

The Klamath Basin along the Oregon–California border is a landscape defined by open sky, high desert, and rich aquatic ecosystems. It is also the site of one of Sprague’s most unique and technically demanding bird-remediation projects: protecting the fish stock of a 25 to 30-acre hatchery where thousands of young fish are being raised in a series of large, in-ground ponds.

The facility is composed of ten smaller ponds measuring roughly 116 x 120 feet and one large pond measuring 200 x 400 feet. The hatchery played a vital role in supporting regional fish populations, including reintroduced species and rare native fish held in select ponds. Its success depended on safeguarding an enormous amount of live fish, an irresistible attractant for the area’s abundant (and hungry) predator bird populations.

“The bird pressure out there was unlike anything we typically see,” says Lance Gray, Sprague Regional Sales Manager. “You’ve got wide-open terrain, no cover, and ponds full of fish. For birds of prey, it’s a buffet. We had a very clear directive: no gaps, no openings, nothing that would allow birds to get through.”

A Facility Under Constant Threat

From the moment temporary netting came down, birds aggressively moved in. Blue herons were the most persistent, but osprey and hawks also targeted the open ponds. With thousands of fish at risk, even short windows of exposure could result in major losses.

Complicating matters, the ponds were fully in-ground and lined with concrete. Existing ground-level anchors gave the facility a head start on infrastructure, but years of sagebrush growth around the pond’s perimeters had to be cleared before installation could begin.

“The netting would get caught on every little branch, so we had to strip the entire area clean just to create a workable space,” explains Chris Hamilton, Operations Manager at Sprague’s Medford, Oregon service center.

The setting was unlike a typical commercial bird-remediation project – no rooftops, no parapets, no ledges. The hatchery needed a ground-level netting system strong enough to withstand weather, predators, and long-term tension, but designed to mimic a natural environment for the fish and allow easy human access for daily operations.

Custom Netting Built for a Custom Environment

Working closely with the facility’s construction contractors and engineering team, Sprague spent more than a year designing a netting solution that met the site’s specific biological and operational needs. The collaborative planning process ensured that materials, anchoring points, cable strength, and access paths were aligned from the start.

“The partnership with the engineers was critical,” says Hamilton. “They asked all the right questions: how heavy the netting was, what load the cables would take, how deep the anchors needed to go. It was like planning the pilings on a bridge. That level of detail upfront made the installation cleaner and safer.”

The nets were custom fabricated to fit each pond precisely. Smaller nets weighed around 45 lbs., mid-sized nets ran 65 – 75 lbs., and the largest sections – measuring roughly 200 x 200 feet – approached 100 lbs. Delivery timelines were long, and installation required careful choreography as materials arrived.

Working at ground level rather than overhead created a different but not necessarily easier set of demands. Crews weren’t fighting gravity, but they did need to manage huge spans of heavy mesh across uneven desert soils. Weather added another layer of complexity: winter snow and spring rain routinely delayed the site’s construction schedule. Dry ground was essential to achieving proper tension and anchor stability.

Timing Was Everything

Because the hatchery could not stock fish until the netting was fully installed, Sprague’s work directly affected the facility’s operational timeline. Fish introduced too soon would draw predators immediately. Every phase had to line up – net fabrication, anchor placement, soil conditions, cable installation, and final tensioning.

“It was a big, moving puzzle,” says Gray. “But when everyone is aligned on the goal -protecting the fish – the process becomes a lot smoother. We had two or three Sprague team members on site at all times during the installation, coordinating closely with the construction crew.”

By October, after months of preparation and several days of installation work, the final netting system was in place. The result was a clean, secure, visually unobtrusive structure that protected the fish while supporting the facility’s long-term biological goals.

Creative Problem-Solving Beyond Bird Control

The hatchery also faced pressure from meadow voles, whose population spikes in the region often draw hawks and other predators into open fields creating even more bird-pressure risk near pond areas. While the primary objective was bird exclusion, Sprague’s broader Integrated Pest Management (IPM) expertise helped the facility design complementary strategies to minimize attraction and prevent secondary pest issues.

“One of the things that sets Sprague apart is that we don’t just install a product, we solve a problem,” says Hamilton. “This project was a perfect example. It brought together wildlife management, construction and pest control professionals to design and deliver a plan that meets long-term goals of the facility.”

And the hatchery isn’t the only unconventional space Sprague has supported. The company has designed bird-remediation solutions for food-processing facilities, solar farms, aviation hangars, refrigerated warehouses, and historic structures across the West.

Why Unique Facilities Choose Sprague

For Sprague, the hatchery project reinforced something the team takes pride in: a willingness to embrace complex, one-of-a-kind problems and deliver solutions that stand the test of time.

“Our team loves this kind of work,” says Gray. “We get excited when a project doesn’t fit the standard mold. It gives us a chance to bring all our creativity and experience to the table.”

Hamilton agrees, “What we built here will protect these fish for decades. It supports the larger conservation initiative and keeps the environment working the way it should. That’s something meaningful.”

As additional pond systems are planned for construction in the coming year, Sprague’s early involvement in the engineering process has already set the stage for future success. The team understands the terrain, the wildlife behavior, and the operational priorities, and that knowledge will streamline the next phase.

A Solution That Makes an Impact

The Klamath Basin hatchery project demonstrates how powerful the right combination of planning, collaboration, and technical expertise can be. With custom-built netting, carefully engineered support systems, and a deep commitment to problem-solving, Sprague delivered a solution that protects valuable fish populations while aligning seamlessly with environmental expectations.

For clients and prospects across industries, the message is clear: even in the most complex environments, Sprague has the capability, experience, and dedication to design solutions that work not just for today, but for decades to come.

If your facility faces a unique or challenging pest-related problem, Sprague is ready to help you build the right solution from the ground up.