WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS- A few months ago, Greenbrier Valley Sportsman’s Alliance partnered with Ronceverte Elementary school and others to bring the “TROUT IN THE CLASSROOM” to the school.
Edray fish hatchery provided Brook Trout eggs for the students to hatch and raise. On Friday, March 27, we released the trout into Howard’s Creek.
It definitely takes a community to make things like this happen, starting with Nicki Fridley Wolfe of RES as the one who spearheaded the project.
Others involved were Officers Lyons and Fitzwater with WVDNR, Thomas Haley with Greenbrier River Shed Association, Matt Ford and Jenna Breeckner with Greenbrier Environmental Group, Jacob Ott with Otters Guide Service, Kevin Johnson with Appalachian Head Water, Carey Edwards with WSS Fish Hatchery, and Pat Harper with City of White Sulphur Springs.
The event kicked off at 9:00 AM with around 50 excited fifth graders from RES. Everyone gathered at the stream for a seminar put on by Matt and Jenna where they demonstrated the equipment to check water quality and dissolved oxygen to assure it was suitable for our trout. After checking four locations along the stream, it was determined that the water was absolutely perfect for the Brook Trout.
Kevin’s station involved having the students gather samples of macroinvertebrates and identify them.
Carey’s station provided education on how the different species found contribute to the preservation of our streams.
Thomas demonstrated how the water quality is affected by what goes on with erosion and point and nonpoint source pollution we see in our daily lives.
Jacob had the task of introducing the kids to Fly Fishing with practice rods.
Officers Fitzwater, with the help of K9 Xena, had a great presentation on K9 contribution to the force with evidence detection and search, while Officer Lyons did an informative presentation on Wildlife and preservation.
I was so proud to be part of it all.
