Galena Creek Fish Hatchery was part of an effort to repair environmental damage in a region whose ecosystem had been ravaged by Nevada's Comstock Lode in the 1860s and 70s, while heavy fishing had also decimated local streams and lakes to feed a growing population. Restocking eventually became an important goal, and Washoe County operated this hatchery from 1931 to 1949 as an auxiliary to its main facility on the Truckee River in Reno. Galena Creek was well suited to the work because it provided a continuous supply of uncontaminated water. The hatchery also reflected a trend that began in the 1920s to combine habitat conservation with recreational development. After the county ended hatchery operations in 1949, the site was used by the Boy Scouts, the Sierra Sage Council of Camp Fire, Inc., and the Washoe Bowmen and Sierra Archers. In 1994, Washoe County reacquired the property as part of Galena Creek Regional Park and planned to restore the building for community use.