December 8, 2017 at 4:47 p.m.
Wabeno High School students to raise brook trout in the classroom
Wabeno High School students to raise brook trout in the classroom
Wabeno Elementary participated last year.
Trout in the Classroom is a fun, hands-on educational program that encourages discussion about trout in classrooms k-12, the release states.
"I am very excited to help bring Trout in the Classroom to Wabeno. It is a natural fit here as the community is actively working to improve the river and the connection its residents and visitors have to the river," said Laura MacFarland, Trout Unlimited's Great Lakes Stream Restoration manager. "Thank you to the teacher, Matt Hein, and the administrators at the high school who have assisted in getting the program up and running."
According to Hein, the science teacher helping to implement the program and "a dozen students in the Environmental Sciences class will care for the trout. They will be responsible for testing the fish tank's water for nitrates, nitrites, ammonium and more. They will also help feed the trout once they hatch."
The purpose of the project is to provide a hands-on educational experience about the natural environment in the student's own backyard.
The North Branch Oconto River in Wabeno, which flows through the heart of Wabeno, is home to the brook trout. The river has received a lot of attention in recent years as many within the community work to restore the fishery, improve the aesthetic beauty and increase access to the river.
In the early 1950s at the urging of the Sportsmens Club, three millponds that warmed the river and degraded water quality were partially removed. Through the decades the club has continued to assist with additional habitat improvements. In more recent years, Trout Unlimited volunteers have partnered with the United States Forest Service upstream of Highway 32 to narrow the stream resulting in deeper, cooler water. As a result of these efforts, there has been a great increase in the number of trout.
Additional restorations are slated for 2018 to further improve the fishery.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 5 Star Grant Program, Northwoods Trout Unlimited, Green Bay Trout Unlimited, and the Nicolet Sportsmens Club provided the necessary equipment and supplies, including a fish tank and chiller to keep the water a cold 54 degrees. The brook trout eggs were donated by Silver Moon Springs Trout Farm in Elton.
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