Last updated: October 9, 2024
Place
Frog Creek Cabin
Photograph courtesy of Yosemite National Park Division of Facilities Management Building Files.
Quick Facts
Location:
Tuolumne, California
Significance:
Conservation, Architecture
Designation:
Listed in the National Register – Reference Number 14000414
Frog Creek Cabin is located in Tuolumne, California as a part of Yosemite National Park. The cabin was constructed in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps to house seasonal workers for the fish propagation program within Yosemite.
The Yosemite region of California has been recognized as a pioneer in fish propagation in part due to its early introduction of fish planting in the 19th century and also because of the innovative techniques by which individuals transported young trout to the high, rugged alpine lakes and streams. In the 20th century, propagation continued as a means to maintain an ample supply of game for visitors and attract tourism to the area. The Wawona-Hatchery was the first facility built within the park boundaries to support fish planting activities. The hatchery was built in 1895 and served as a more convenient and localized source for fish propagation until 1928.
In anticipation of the crowds brought by the newly built California Route 140, park administrators teamed up with the Fish and Game Commission in 1927 to begin work on the new Happy Isles Fish Hatchery, also known as the Yosemite Hatchery. The new building took the place of the former experimental hatchery and was constructed in the National Park Service Rustic Style. All funding and operations of the facility were provided by the Fish and Game Commission on land leased from the Department of the Interior. Unlike the hatchery at Wawona, there was also an emphasis on providing interpretation and visitor interaction. National Park Service rangers led guided nature tours through the operating facility to teach visitors about fish propagation and to help instill wildlife conservation ethics.
By the early 1930s, hatchery activities were now fully focused on supplementing the natural propagation of existing fish populations, rather than introducing new exotic species. In order to maintain these newly formed natural resource management ideals, it was necessary to develop permanent egg-collecting stations within the park. During the summer season of 1932, park administrators strategically sought out and selected a location for such a facility at Frog Creek. The location proved to be ideal for numerous reasons: the lake had a plentiful supply of rainbow trout, Frog Creek was a suitable tributary for spawning trout, the location was easily accessible, and it was within an area of park development.
In 1933, the National Park Service's Regional Branch of Plans and Designs produced design plans for the egg-collecting station near the mouth of Frog Creek. The initial construction was initiated in two phases; the project began in 1933 and completed in October of 1934. All construction labor for the project was completed by CCC enrollees under the supervision of park staff. The first capture of rainbow trout at the Frog Creek facility occurred in April of 1934 before the project had even reached its completion. During that first year, the egg-collecting operations proved to be extremely successful and were able to supply over half of the total million fertilized fish eggs needed yearly by the Happy Isles Hatchery. It was expected that if operating at maximum capacity the Frog Creek Egg-Collecting station would be able to supply the entire amount in the upcoming years and make the hatchery facility fully self-sustaining.
Seasonal workers were stationed at Frog Creek during the spring and fall spawning months. Initially, the men working at the station stayed in a tent camp. However, after the operation proved successful, the park began planning for permanent housing on site. The Frog Creek Cabin was completed in September 1936 by CCC workers under the supervision of Yosemite National Park. Beginning in the 1960s, natural resource managers viewed unnatural fishery activities to be in conflict with the National Park Service's mission to conserve the natural resources unimpaired for future generations. In 1969, the National Park Service adopted a policy to phase out and eventually end fish stocking in all national parks. In 1991, an agreement was reached between the National Park Service and the California Department of Fish and Game (formerly the California Fish and Game Commission) to stop fish planting altogether. Today great lengths are taken to preserve all natural resources and more natural ecosystem life cycles are encouraged. To improve habitats for native frogs, an experimental fish removal program, to remove non-native fish from lakes and streams, was begun in 2007 and continues to this day.
Although the egg-collecting station no longer exists, the Frog Creek Cabin remains as evidence of the fish egg-collecting operations that once existed on the shore of Lake Eleanor. The cabin continues to serve its original capacity as an outlying patrol cabin for natural resource management activities.
Link to National Register of Historic Places file.
The Yosemite region of California has been recognized as a pioneer in fish propagation in part due to its early introduction of fish planting in the 19th century and also because of the innovative techniques by which individuals transported young trout to the high, rugged alpine lakes and streams. In the 20th century, propagation continued as a means to maintain an ample supply of game for visitors and attract tourism to the area. The Wawona-Hatchery was the first facility built within the park boundaries to support fish planting activities. The hatchery was built in 1895 and served as a more convenient and localized source for fish propagation until 1928.
In anticipation of the crowds brought by the newly built California Route 140, park administrators teamed up with the Fish and Game Commission in 1927 to begin work on the new Happy Isles Fish Hatchery, also known as the Yosemite Hatchery. The new building took the place of the former experimental hatchery and was constructed in the National Park Service Rustic Style. All funding and operations of the facility were provided by the Fish and Game Commission on land leased from the Department of the Interior. Unlike the hatchery at Wawona, there was also an emphasis on providing interpretation and visitor interaction. National Park Service rangers led guided nature tours through the operating facility to teach visitors about fish propagation and to help instill wildlife conservation ethics.
By the early 1930s, hatchery activities were now fully focused on supplementing the natural propagation of existing fish populations, rather than introducing new exotic species. In order to maintain these newly formed natural resource management ideals, it was necessary to develop permanent egg-collecting stations within the park. During the summer season of 1932, park administrators strategically sought out and selected a location for such a facility at Frog Creek. The location proved to be ideal for numerous reasons: the lake had a plentiful supply of rainbow trout, Frog Creek was a suitable tributary for spawning trout, the location was easily accessible, and it was within an area of park development.
In 1933, the National Park Service's Regional Branch of Plans and Designs produced design plans for the egg-collecting station near the mouth of Frog Creek. The initial construction was initiated in two phases; the project began in 1933 and completed in October of 1934. All construction labor for the project was completed by CCC enrollees under the supervision of park staff. The first capture of rainbow trout at the Frog Creek facility occurred in April of 1934 before the project had even reached its completion. During that first year, the egg-collecting operations proved to be extremely successful and were able to supply over half of the total million fertilized fish eggs needed yearly by the Happy Isles Hatchery. It was expected that if operating at maximum capacity the Frog Creek Egg-Collecting station would be able to supply the entire amount in the upcoming years and make the hatchery facility fully self-sustaining.
Seasonal workers were stationed at Frog Creek during the spring and fall spawning months. Initially, the men working at the station stayed in a tent camp. However, after the operation proved successful, the park began planning for permanent housing on site. The Frog Creek Cabin was completed in September 1936 by CCC workers under the supervision of Yosemite National Park. Beginning in the 1960s, natural resource managers viewed unnatural fishery activities to be in conflict with the National Park Service's mission to conserve the natural resources unimpaired for future generations. In 1969, the National Park Service adopted a policy to phase out and eventually end fish stocking in all national parks. In 1991, an agreement was reached between the National Park Service and the California Department of Fish and Game (formerly the California Fish and Game Commission) to stop fish planting altogether. Today great lengths are taken to preserve all natural resources and more natural ecosystem life cycles are encouraged. To improve habitats for native frogs, an experimental fish removal program, to remove non-native fish from lakes and streams, was begun in 2007 and continues to this day.
Although the egg-collecting station no longer exists, the Frog Creek Cabin remains as evidence of the fish egg-collecting operations that once existed on the shore of Lake Eleanor. The cabin continues to serve its original capacity as an outlying patrol cabin for natural resource management activities.
Link to National Register of Historic Places file.