Weaver Creek new home for FCMS trout

  • Students anxiously awaited their turn to have a trout placed in their cup so they may release it into the stream.
    Students anxiously awaited their turn to have a trout placed in their cup so they may release it into the stream.
  • Students wore clothes and shoes perfect for getting into the water so that they can release their tout into their new home.
    Students wore clothes and shoes perfect for getting into the water so that they can release their tout into their new home.
  • Students, left, Isabella Davenport, Tori Arp (STEM Teacher), Olivia Harris, Molly Howard, and Rivers Halpin were having so much fun releasing their trout into the stream.
    Students, left, Isabella Davenport, Tori Arp (STEM Teacher), Olivia Harris, Molly Howard, and Rivers Halpin were having so much fun releasing their trout into the stream.
  • Students, left, Isabella Davenport and Selena Bell checked the temperature of the water to ensure their trout will be acclimated accurately.
    Students, left, Isabella Davenport and Selena Bell checked the temperature of the water to ensure their trout will be acclimated accurately.
  • It is important to check the PH level of the water to ensure the trout survive in their new environment. Students, left, Elin Thoresen and Elizabeth Evans collected some of the water from the stream with STEM Teacher, Tori Arp and used a device to check it’s PH.
    It is important to check the PH level of the water to ensure the trout survive in their new environment. Students, left, Elin Thoresen and Elizabeth Evans collected some of the water from the stream with STEM Teacher, Tori Arp and used a device to check it’s PH.

    By Bobbi Pippin

    Fannin County Middle School students’ hard work finally paid off on Thursday, March 7, when they were able to release 70 Rainbow Trout into Weavers Creek.

    This has been a year long project for the 6th grade as well as some of the 7th grade students. Althea Gobble’s 6th grade science classes and Tori Arp’s Exploratory classes received their Rainbow Trout eggs on Friday, October 6, 2023.

    Prior to the arrival of the eggs, students assisted with setting up a tank in Mrs. Gobble’s room, and a tank in Mrs. Arp’s room. Students studied the habitat needs for Rainbow Trout and helped to simulate that in a closed ecosystem.

    Mrs. Gobble and Mrs. Arp consulted with Dr. Jay Shelton with Warnell School of Forestry at UGA to create an efficient bio filter system within the tanks.

    Once the eggs hatched, the Sac Fry were monitored by the students by checking the tanks water levels regarding pH, ammonia, and Nitrate. Monitoring the water quality along with the progression of the growth for the trout helped link the needs of the fish in the tank to the needs of the fish in our streams.

    When the big day came to release the trout, students were very excited. One trout that was a class favorite at the release was named “Big Bertha.” She received this title for her size as well as her eating habits during her time with the students.

    As the middle schoolers lined up at the cooler with their cups, they saved Big Bertha for last and each hoped they would get to release her.

    Arp and Gobble gave the students very specific instructions for what to do and not to do during the release.

    Many factors can affect how the trout do in their new home such as temperature, amount of air, and PH level of the water.

    Not only was it important to ensure the trout were kept alive in their classroom, students had to be sure the trout made it after they were released.

    Classes focused on the needs to improve the water quality of the streams on their campus, as well as the impact humans are having on the health of the watershed overall.

    Thanks to the students and teachers of Fannin County Middle School, the trout now have a home and the streams are healthier.