The Aquaculture Technician Program is taught with a hands-on emphasis at  the  aquaculture production facility diagrammed above!  The aquafarm is located just 25 miles north of the Alamosa Campus and students take the short van ride  to the fish farm at least 2 days a week during the semester.  Once there they culture, harvest and market various coldwater, coolwater and warmwater fish species.  Lectures and labs are held on main campus during the other days of the week.

     The facilities at the fish farm include a geothermal well with a constant temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit for year-round fish production.  This artesian water source free flows at a rate of over 1,000 gallons per minute!  During the winter months, the temperature in the large reservoir drops low enough for the grow out of coldwater species, such as the rainbow trout, while still maintaining the warmth required for the spawning and/or grow out of warmwater species, such as tilapia and catfish in the ponds, cages and tanks found at other locations on the 30-acre farm.  Electricity (120V/240V/480V) is also available on the site.

     The Aquaculture Technician Program takes pride in the integrated use of its valuable water resource by reusing the culture water via a center pivot irrigation system for the production of 360 acres of potatoes, wheat and award-winning Coors barley.  In addition to fish and terrestrial crop production, the aquafarm and its surrounding wetlands serve as a wildlife refuge for migratory geese, ducks and cranes by providing habitat to sustain their seasonal activities and needs. 

     This wonderful resource is secured in a long-term lease to ensure all students involved a rich, quality educational experience with us!