Date: 3/19/07
Contact: C. Doug Nielsen
Phone: (702) 486-5127, ext. 3500

KIDS RELEASE BABY TROUT INTO LOCAL PARKS

Lorenzi Park, located off of Washington Ave. between Rancho and Valley View, is a Las Vegas City Park with a fishing pond, a pond that attracts the attention of local youth Like Gibson Middle school students Tyler Brown and Brandon Stiltz. These young men were visiting Lorenzi Park when they were invited to assist the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) in releasing more than 100 rainbow trout into the pond. They were joined by Las Vegas second grader Kelly Rios.

The released trout were actually one-inch fry that were raised from eggs as part of the NDOW Trout in the Classroom Program, which involved 50 schools in Clark, Nye and Lincoln counties. During the past week, students in participating schools released thousands of trout fry into Southern Nevada waters. The releases are the culmination of a six-week effort by students, teachers and NDOW staff who watched and agonized over the hatching, development and finally the release of the little rainbow trout.

Schools received their eggs the first week of February. And though some schools have lost a portion of their fish during the process, most were successful in raising the trout to the point that they could be released.

“This program is a great way for 4th through 6th graders to learn about life cycles, as well as how small changes in an environment can affect these fish. Trout are a great indicator species of how healthy streams and lakes are, and the least little change, such as pollutants, can drastically affect the fish,” said Ivy Santee NDOW angler education coordinator in Southern Nevada.

Some of the fry that have been released into Lake Mead have been seen months later at the size of approximately four inches. However, the Trout in the Classroom Program is not a stocking program. It is all about education.

“I wish we had this kind of thing in our school to learn about life science, this is really cool,” said 12 year old Tyler Brown.

To find out more about the NDOW Trout in the Classroom program visit the agency’s website at www.ndow,org, or contact Ivy Santee at 486-5127 x 3503.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.