Aquaculture Facility Potential at Boulder Hot Springs, Boulder, Montana. GTA Report No. 1

摘要

The potential of using geothermal water to develop a commercial aquaculture facility to raise channel catfish at Boulder Hot Springs, Montana is examined. Maximum catfish growth occurs in water with a temperature from 80 exp 0 F to 85 exp 0 F. This temperature can be maintaned when the 175 exp 0 F geothermal water is mixed with the available 55 exp 0 F water. The only economically viable culture considered was the raceway culture. The 4000 gpm supply of 55 exp 0 F water could supply 7 to 8 raceways with a total production of 269,000 to 307,000 pounds of catfish per year. This operation, discounting the purchase of land, would cost about $150,000.