Beginning this month and continuing through April and into May, SRTU is partnering with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) to release hundreds of fish fry into the Smith River. These aren’t just any baby fish—they were raised by local students in classroom tanks throughout our area.
After receiving eggs in October, students care for the fish until their release in March and April. Along the way, they learn about the trout life cycle, the responsibility of maintaining a healthy tank, and the importance of clean, coldwater ecosystems
I had the pleasure of participating in one of these releases this morning. Around 40 students from one of the local middle schools traveled to the Great Road Canoe launch in Fieldale, Va. There, they explored the river ecosystem firsthand—learning about macroinvertebrates and even helping identify live insects and larvae collected from the water.
Students examined the larval stages of caddisflies, dragonflies, and stoneflies, along with small aquatic worms and crayfish. Seeing these organisms up close gave them a deeper understanding of the river’s health and the role each species plays in the ecosystem.
After all this learning it was time for the highlight of the day…releasing their fish. Each student and teacher received a cup of water with their very own baby trout. Many of these baby fish were given names before being carefully released into the river.
With their adventure complete, the children boarded their school bus to travel to their next stop…Lunch by the Philpott Dam.
This was just one fish release for one school. DRBA and SRTU will repeat this process for around a dozen schools this year. Special thanks go out to the many volunteers who make these events possible, as well as the dedicated staff at DRBA who sustain this outstanding program.
If you would like to help support this or other programs SRTU supports throughout the year please consider making a donation by clicking on the “Donate Now” button at the top of this page or contacting our chapter Treasurer, Eric Tichay at erictichay@yahoo.com.