This winter and spring, high school students we mentor in the CART (Center for Advanced Research and Technology) Salmon and Trout program in the Environmental Lab are getting an up-close look at one of California’s most iconic native fish: Chinook salmon.
Through a partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CART students have received fertilized Chinook salmon eggs from the Nimbus Fish Hatchery on the American River, which are now safely nestled within the gravel in the refrigerated classroom aquarium tank pictured above. Under the guidance of Aquarius Aquarium Institute educators, students from both Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified School Districts are now caring for the eggs as they develop into alevins and fry.
This is hands-on, real-world science. Students are responsible for daily husbandry, water quality monitoring, temperature control, and detailed observation of each developmental stage. Along the way, they learn about salmon life cycles, hatchery operations, river systems, and the complex challenges facing salmon across California.
Our students will release these salmon into the San Joaquin River – becoming part of the larger restoration effort – giving them a meaningful understanding of how hatchery programs support salmon populations statewide and how rivers, water management, and fish conservation are deeply connected.
Programs like this are only possible because of our Charter Members and supporters. Your generosity provides the mentorship that allow students to engage in authentic conservation education. More importantly, you help inspire future scientists, resource managers, and environmental leaders right here in the Central Valley.
Thank you for making this kind of quality education possible.
