Our Story
The history of trout in the Assi Ganga begins long before the founding of Bevra. Scroll through the timeline below to understand how brown trout became part of this valley and how Bevra Trout Hatchery came to be.
The history of trout in the Assi Ganga begins long before the founding of Bevra. Scroll through the timeline below to understand how brown trout became part of this valley and how Bevra Trout Hatchery came to be.
Brown trout from Loch Leven, Scotland, are believed to have been introduced to the Dodital area by Frederick "Pahari" Wilson. Over time, trout established themselves in the Assi Ganga and its tributaries.
Trout angling gradually developed alongside subsistence agriculture and trekking. During this period, brown trout thrived in the Assi Ganga alongside other native species.
A government hatchery was built at the base of the river but proved unsuccessful due to management challenges, poor broodstock, high silt loads, and infrastructure limitations. Today, only rubble remains from flood damage, and no further government attempts were made to hatch brown trout.
To support Uttarakhand's growing economy and population, a hydroelectric dam project was commissioned at the base of the Assi Ganga. The project, though never finished, altered river flow and affected local fish populations.
On August 3, 2012, a once-in-a-millennium cloudburst struck the Assi Ganga Valley, dumping over 120 mm of rain in just five hours. Intensified by dynamiting from the hydroelectric project at the base of the valley, the loosened rock gave way to landslides and house-sized boulders that barreled down the Assi Ganga. The flood wrecked homes, destroyed the dam, and dramatically reshaped the river. The brown trout population was almost completely wiped out, with most of the survivors remaining only in Dodital Lake.
Peyton McDonald first visited India on a Global Education Trip with Aaron Alter, through Christ Church School. During this trip, Peyton was introduced to the Assi Ganga Valley and met his future co-founders, Suman Panwar and Praveen Rawat. Hoping to catch a brown trout, Peyton returned empty-handed—but he fell in love with the valley and its people, setting the stage for Bevra's founding.
Discussions between Peyton, Aaron, Suman, and Praveen about the depleted brown trout population evolved into the idea for Bevra Trout Hatchery. The team worked to begin fundraising, shaping the mission, and selecting a site for the hatchery.
Peyton and Aaron returned to India, where the team met with the local fisheries department. In exchange for brown trout eggs, they received funding and additional support.
Construction continued in India while fundraising efforts in the United States gathered support from donors who shared interest in the mission of restoring healthy brown trout populations in the Assi Ganga.
The hatchery will be complete in December 2025. This December, Bevra will begin collecting broodstock, fertilizing eggs, and conducting reach-by-reach stream surveys to determine where stocking is most needed. By 2026, thousands of brown trout fingerlings will be growing in the hatchery, ready for stocking throughout the Assi Ganga Valley. Bevra will continue to rear trout for both stocking and responsible market sale, ensuring the hatchery's operations and mission remain sustainable.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of our donors. To all who have supported us, we extend our gratitude.