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Trout in the Classroom
Sunday, 09 March 2008 16:23

altWhat is Trout in the Classroom?

"Trout in the Classroom" is an environmental program which helps teach young people about trout and the environment in which they live through the process of raising trout from eggs. TIC was started by the late Joan Stoliar and the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers (TGF) of New York City. The program in New York is six years old and the Croton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited (CWCTU) has been involved with and sponsored it for five years now.

How does the program work?

Eggs are sent to schools by the New York State Department of Conservation (NYSDEC) in the fall along with trout food. The students watch them hatch into fish and care for them until spring, when the students release the fish into local streams. Students learn first hand about fish development, various areas of science and the environment, responsibility, as well as gaining a respect for living things.

Environmental organizations, like CWCTU, assist interested teachers/schools both with the equipment they need to get started and with various on-going supplies. It is hoped that schools can help match some of the expenses so that organizations like CWCTU can stretch their funding dollars and involve more schools. At present, CWCTU sponsors six schools in Westchester and Putnam counties. There are more than 60 schools involved in the program within the New York metropolitan area.

How much does it cost?

There is no cost to the school - CWCTU sponsors this program. The start-up equipment costs approximately twelve hundred dollars. This mostly includes a chiller (the single highest costing item, at $650 or so), an aquarium, a filtration system, an aerator/pump, gravel and an aquarium cover. Additional supplies include an egg incubator, replacements filters, chemicals, buckets, water containers, dip net, turkey baster, cleaning brush, thermometer, water testing kit, siphon, etc. Not included is the cost for electrical power and transportation to the release site.

What should I know?

As in real life, the important factors are keeping the fish fed and the water clean, cold (58° - 62° F is ideal) and well oxygenated. Difficulties arise during weekends, school holidays and vacation breaks when no students may be on hand to care for the fish. Finding and enlisting caring custodial staff can go a long way toward alleviating the later trout care scheduling problems.

If you have any additional TIC planning questions or questions related to water chemistry or the raising of fish in general, please feel free to contact us by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
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    Press Release by DEC: Delaware river basin commision states join in emergency thermal release program
    For Release: :IMMEDIATE                           Contact: Lori O’Connell
    Wednesday, July 16, 2008                                       (518) 402-8000


    AGREEMENT REACHED: DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION STATES JOIN IN EMERGENCY THERMAL RELEASE PROGRAM FOR FISHERY PROTECTION

    In response to the potential of unseasonably high air temperatures in the upper Delaware River Basin this summer and the effects of rising water temperatures on the river’s renowned fishery, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and the City of New York, the “decree parties” that share management responsibility of the New York City Delaware River reservoirs and their tailwaters, unanimously approved a temporary program to protect this vital recreational fishing resource.

    Under the agreement, known as the “Interim Excess Release Quantity Extraordinary Needs Bank for an Emergency Thermal Releases Program for Fishery Protection,” DEC is authorized to make emergency releases from a bank of nearly one billion gallons of water in the Cannonsville Reservoir to moderate temperature spikes until September 15, 2008.  It is anticipated that this bank of water should be sufficient to address thermal needs of the upper main stem of the Delaware River under extreme conditions.  Releases will occur when the three-day average of forecasted daily maximum air temperatures for the Hancock, NY vicinity exceeds 90 degrees F and the minimum exceeds 65 degrees F.  Air temperature forecasts will come from DEC’s meteorological staff working in conjunction with the National Weather Service.  

    “Water-release management is complex and requires an appropriate balance among issues involving drinking water supply, aquatic habitat, flood risks, recreation, and even hydropower production,” Commissioner Grannis said. “New York State is committed to continued and cooperative efforts to optimize the management of these critically important water resources to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

    During periods of low flow and relatively high water temperatures, DEC recommends that anglers consider delaying their trout fishing outings until the river conditions become less stressful for fish and that fishing trips occur early in the morning when water temperatures are at their lowest point in the day.

    “While we are doing our best to manage the trout resources of the Delaware tailwaters, anglers can help by minimizing their interactions with fish when conditions are most severe,” added Grannis.

    While the Flexible Flow Management Program (FFMP) should primarily provide habitat and temperatures suitable for trout on the West Branch of the Delaware and the upper sections of the East Branch and Neversink River, use of the emergency bank will help abate extremely high water temperature events in the upper reaches of the Delaware’s main stem.  The bank will enable DEC to provide a plume of cold water below the confluence with the East Branch to the extent possible and increase flows so that trout will be able to move to thermal refuge areas.

    The main stem is vulnerable during periods of high temperature when large volumes of warm water from the East Branch enter the main stem at Hancock and there are no directed releases from the Cannonsville Reservoir to counter this inflow.  

    The DEC will continue to work with the decree parties to further improve upon the reservoir water release schedule specified in the current FFMP and provide improved thermal habitat on the main stem Delaware River to the extent feasible given other pressing considerations.

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