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TYPICAL SALMONID TANK
- MARCH
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During the 2005-2006 school year, Portland Water District will
partner with Trout Unlimited to pilot a “Trout in the Classroom”
program in Maine.
Many of the
schools participating in Portland Water District’s HydroLogics
school-based education program have integrated our “Classroom
Hatcheries” program into their curriculum. The program, which
draws upon curriculum developed by the Portland Water
District, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited,
the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and others, engages teachers
and their students in a yearlong exploration of water and
watersheds through the study of a range of subjects,
including:
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photos
taken by Brian Blias
6th
grade student at King Middle School
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Water quality and pollution |
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Ecosystems and biodiversity |
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Habitat protection |
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Salmonids anatomy and life cycle |
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Data Collection and analysis |
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Watersheds and watershed
protection |
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"Many go fishing all their lives
without knowing that it is not
fish they are after."
------ Henry David
Thoreau |
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A keystone
element of the program is the raising of fish fry in chilled
incubator tanks in the classroom. The program culminates with the
students releasing their young charges into the river. During the
2004-2005 school year, more than 1500 students hosted Classroom
Hatcheries- in schools from Waterford, Harrison, Bridgton, Casco,
Sebago, Standish, Raymond, Westbrook, Cumberland, Portland, and
South Portland. In addition to the interdisciplinary lessons,
students are encouraged to develop and implement their own
watershed stewardship projects aimed at helping to ensure a
healthy future for their new fish friends.
The Portland
Water District supports Classroom Hatcheries in several ways. Our
environmental educators lead monthly interactive lessons in
participating classrooms. We serve as liaison between the schools
and the various governmental agencies that manage and regulate
salmonids in Maine; obtaining the necessary permits, coordinating
egg deliveries and the fry releases, etc. Teachers may apply to
the District for "Rainy Day MiniGrant" funds- to help defray the
costs of the incubator tank, the chiller, other associated
equipment, and curricular materials. We also provide
participating schools with resource materials to compliment the
program and with technical assistance.
The future of
the Sebago Lake watershed, and clean water for all, is in the
hands of our children. Children involved in the Classroom
Hatcheries program learn the basics of water quality protection,
while caring for organisms whose lives depend upon it. They
develop the habits of informed, involved citizens. The Portland
Water District invites you to follow the progress of your local
Classroom Hatchery!
Other Resources
Trout Fact Sheet
Natural vs. Tank Comparison
Trout
Unlimited's Trout in the Classroom
Sebago Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Weekly fishing reports, Maine IF&W
Brookies in the Balance (opinion piece)
Maine
Inland Fish and Wildlife Brook Trout
Hatchery fish article
Maine
fishing records
Fishing licenses
GMRI
Streams
EPA - Climate Change and Coldwater Fish Brochure
Fishing and tourism
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