November 15, 16, 17 and 19, 2011
Small Fry to Go (SFtG) graduation is next week! Our rainbow trout fry have been nurtured since early October when they arrived as eggs from TroutLodge hatchery in Washington State. This week they will swim free in the Chattahoochee River at Paces Mill Park. We are excited to see the success of the 15 schools from DeKalb County, Cobb County and Fulton County, Georgia and Duval County Florida who have raised over 32,000 fry, bringing the program’s grand total of fry raised since 2004 to more than 156,000.
Fourteen DeKalb Schools will participate in next week’s release. Students, teachers, and parents from Kingsley Charter, Oakcliff Theme School, Avondale Elementary, Brown’s Mill, McLendon, Rock Chapel, Evansdale, Henderson Mill, Narvie Harris, Oak Grove, Sequoyah MS, and Stone Mountain MS will arrive in 18 busses over three days at Paces Mill. SFtG Program Facilitators and Mentors will be assisting all DeKalb County School System Small Fry to Go sites in the scientifically and environmentally delicate preparation for and transportation of thousands of baby fish they have raised at their schools for the trip to the Chattahoochee River. Many students will be making posters and signs for the “Bye Fry” event to wish their fry a safe life! Bring your cameras and shoes that can get wet!!!
At the Chattahoochee, students work with biologists and researchers in what scientists refer to as a “tearing up process” where they will equalize the transport water temperature and dissolved oxygen level with the river water before they release their trout fry. Students will explore the river bank sediment to learn about river conservation, erosion, and protection, see a spawning demonstration from the Director of the Department of Natural Resources Buford Trout Hatchery, and enjoy a picnic in the park. Buses will be leaving at 12:30 for the return trip to school.
Students, teachers, school administrators and parents from St. Joseph Catholic School in Cobb County will release their fry in a separate event. On Saturday, November 19, their 2,700, 2” rainbow trout fry will be released into the Chattahoochee River at Paces Mill.
Mayport Elementary, Duval County Florida, is a new participant in the SFtG Program for the fall of 2011. On November 18, after a special “Stayin’ Alive” celebration at the school in Florida and a rousing sendoff, the 5000 fry raised by the Coastal Science Academy students will be transported to the cool trout water at Jones Bridge on the Chattahoochee river!
Submitted by the BigFry