SALMON IN SCHOOLS
June 6, 2019
WAITSBURG-Students from Mrs. Stephanie Hinchliffe's first grade class released salmon into the Touchet River on May 22, concluding this season of the Salmon in Schools project.
Waitsburg, Dixie and Touchet elementary schools are among the newest participating schools, bringing the program's total roster to twelve. Waitsburg first graders are pioneers and, indeed, prototypes for the potential success of this program among younger students.
The journey to the release began on Oct. 17 when Andrew Bassler, educa- tion coordinator for the Tri-State Steel- headers brought in 125 spring chinook salmon eggs.
The salmon eggs were sourced from either the South Fork of the Walla Walla adult holding facility near Harris Park, or the Umatilla Hatchery in Irrigon, Ore.
Students monitor their eggs' prog- ress carefully, feeding them twice dai- ly. With ideal tank conditions and no predators, the eggs' development progressed rapidly. They began hatching by Oct. 29th. Students followed the salmon through the developmental stages they learned from Bassler's lessons.
As of the Times' last update on Nov. 22, the salmon eggs had progressed to the alevin stage. After winter break, the salmon were prepared for their late May release by gradually raising the water temperature and increasing their food intake.
Students said goodbye to each salmon individually and wished them well on their long journey to the ocean.
This year, three schools released their salmon into Mill Creek, four into the Tucannon River, four into the Touchet River, and one school into Yellowhawk Creek.
Next spring, Salmon in Schools will also be implemented at Starbuck and Sharpstein elementary schools, as well as the Walla Walla YMCA, bringing the total participating sites to fifteen. To ac- commodate the growth, the group has added new staff.
Steven Poulos has joined as project manager and Aimee Taylor, an AmeriCorps volunteer, aids Bassler in teaching kids about the salmon life cycle and the Columbia River watershed.
A portion of the program's success is due to the teachers who maintain enthusiasm for this kind of learning experience throughout the school year.
Hinchliffe is already excited to participate again next year.
"I loved that I was learning right along with my students! Instead of me being just the teacher, my students got to see me as a student! Now, that's learning at its best!" Hinchliffe said.
Tri-State Steelheaders is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy salmon and steelhead populations in south- east Washington, northeast Oregon, and north central Idaho.
Base funding for the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups, of which Tri-State Steelheaders is one, comes from a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a portion of state commercial and recreational fishing license fees, and excess egg and carcass sales administered by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
In order to achieve their mission of restoring sustainable populations of native salmonids, the group works closely with landowners, volunteers, tribes, conservation organizations, pri- vate corporations and state and federal agencies to implement education and research programs. More information on this organization can be found at tristatesteelheaders.com.
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