Becoming a Participant
I. The Permit Process
All Salmon in the Classroom projects begin with an application to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to obtain salmon eggs. This application is reviewed by staff biologists to ensure species and habitat suitability. You should send the application to Columbia Springs - Salmon in the Classroom, which will in turn send the application to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Applications for projects beginning in the fall/early winter should be received by the preceding November, almost a full year in advance of an anticipated project. The application process begins early in the year because fish managers have to make early estimates on how many fish must return to spawn to ensure a continuing run. These decisions are usually finalized during mid to late spring. Based on these estimates, hatcheries then acquire additional eggs or fish beyond their own needs for volunteer enhancement efforts. This schedule also allows time to assess equipment needs for each of the new schools applying to the program. It may be possible for schools to begin participating on shorter notice depending on their location, equipment availability, or their decision to fund the purchase of the tank set-up from an outside source.
II. Aquarium Acquisition
Clark Public Utilities provides the initial aquarium set-up and accompanying refrigeration units (chillers). However, you may be put on a waiting list if not enough units are available in any given year. Unit availability depends on how many new units are purchased and/or how many schools decide to drop out of the program in any given year. If you would like to start the Salmon in the Classroom project immediately and you are able to get funding through another source (such as your school, a local business or community service organization, etc.) the Salmon in the Classroom program coordinator can help you with the aquarium set-up and egg/fish acquisition. All aquarium placements will need to be approved by Columbia Springs - Salmon in the Classroom.
As the Salmon in the Classroom program grows, the ability of the program to provide tank set-ups is becoming limited. We strongly recommend your investigation into tank sponsorship by your school's PTA or local Rotary chapter.
Responsibilities of Participants
Teacher/student responsibilities:
- Picking up or arranging delivery of your coho fry and eggs.
- Completing and submitting the program application to the Salmon in the Classroom Coordinator at Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center.
- Recording the accumulated temperature units during egg incubation.
- Keeping the tank clean. (scraping the sides of the tank free of algae, vacuuming, changing 15 gallons of water about once a week [while eggs and fry are present, less often at other times], netting out any dead fish)
- Replacing the filter components and other consumables when necessary.
- Feeding the fish regularly.
- Informing the school personnel about the importance of leaving the tank undisturbed, and requesting help in feeding the fish on the weekends and over breaks if necessary.
- Releasing the salmon fingerlings and fry to your designated release site on the appropriate watershed.
- Completing and returning the Salmon Planting Record to the Salmon in the Classroom Coordinator. (the renewal of your permit may depend on this)
- Keeping the tank running and undisturbed through the summer months.
- Keeping equipment where it has been installed unless a move has been authorized by Salmon in the Classroom.
- Informing the Salmon in the Classroom Coordinator if you no longer wish to participate, are changing schools, or are passing the tank along to another teacher in your current school.
- Abiding by the permit and program restrictions. (While participating in the program, regardless of tank ownership, the tank may only be used to rear the provided coho salmon.
- Using the tank to hold any other species endangers the health of the animals provided to your school by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is in violation of your permit.
- Unless authorized in advance, the aquarium needs to be used for salmon rearing and environmental learning throughout the entire school year. If for some reason the teacher is unable to use the aquarium, it will need to be returned to Columbia Springs.
Clark Public Utilities responsibilities:
- Providing the aquarium tank, chiller and associated start-up equipment (on a loan basis)
- Assembling the aquarium
- Replacing mechanical aquarium components
- Providing curriculum materials, as well as guidance and advice about maintenance, problems, release of fish, etc.
- Coordinating all permits and fish release information related to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife requirements
- Setting up pick up locations and/or delivery schedules for fall fingerlings, and spring eyed eggs
