May 2009 Trout Release

large view The put our 31 surviving Brook Trout in a cooler to keep the water tems down before our release large view Veronica, Val, Cailey and Jack entered the stream in anticipation of the release large view Izabella, Alexis and Veronica had to 1st acclimate the cooler to the 59 degree stream temp large view It took an hour to equalize the water temp in the cooler large view Izabella and Alexis added stream water to the cooler then took some water out, while Jack watched large view Katie released one of the 1st fish (Look in the lower left corner of the picture - see it?) large view Val netted one fish at a time put them into cups while Cailey, Gabbie and Nick waited for a fish large view Jack took over duties of netting fish in the cooler to put into cups

Ironia School 2nd Annual

Brook Trout Release

Saturday May 23rd, 8:00 am

As our school year winds down to an end, so does our year long Trout in the Classroom Project.

Since October we have been raising Brook Trout.  Besides learning that the Brook Trout is our New Jersey State fish, throughout the year many of our 5^th graders have participated in cleaning and maintaining the Trout tank as well as feeding them. 

The students learned just how difficult it is for the fish to survive in the wild by learning about the many threats that Trout have to overcome, while also learning about water quality through vigilant water quality testing that ensured clean cold water necessary for the survival of our Brook Trout.  We also learned of ongoing cold water conservation efforts that ensure a healthy ecosystem for Trout survival.

Of the original 350 Trout eggs that we received from the Pequest Trout Hatchery last fall, we have approximately 35 survivors, each approximately 3 inches in length, that we will release on Saturday May 23rd.  Because of the high quality of the water that Brook Trout require we had to apply for a release permit and we chose a pre-approved NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Brook Trout stream.  The closest release location to Ironia is the Hibernia Brook, (Behind the Rockaway Township Fire House) on Route 513, (Greenpond Road) in Rockaway Township, approximately a 20 minute ride from school. 

I invite you to participate in Ironia’s very first Trout release to bid our Brook Trout a fond farewell.  Directions are below. 

Mr. Szuszkowski

Plan on arriving at 8:00 am and please park in the far right of the Firehouse parking lot so that fire trucks can exit in an emergency.  If the lot is full you can park along the road just past the firehouse on the brook side and then walk down to the firehouse.  If you need to contact Mr. S. the morning of the release he can be reached at 973-214-2152.

1.  Turn right out of the Ironia School parking lot onto Dover Chester Road for 2.2 miles

2.  Turn right onto Route 10 East for 2.8 miles

3.  Take the South Salem Street/Victory Gardens/Dover/Route 665 Exit by the Staples and

     cross over the highway

4.  Turn left at the light onto South Salem Street for .2 miles

5.  Take the next right onto Franklin Rd for .3 miles (The Showplace is on the corner)

6.  Take the 3^rd left onto Rockaway Road  for .6 miles (continue up the hill and go across

     Route 46)

7.  On the other side of Route 46, Rockaway Road becomes West Main Street

8.  Continue on West Main Street until the center of Rockaway Borough (Follow Route 513)

     for 1.2 miles

9.  Bear left at the PNC Bank and the Pizza place onto Wall Street (so street sign, follow  

     Route 513)

10.  Bear right at the lime green church onto Church Street (still following Route 513)

11.  Go Past Saint Cecilia’s Church on the right and straight through the light (the road    

       now becomes Hibernia Ave (Route 513)

12.  Follow under Route 80 and continue to follow Route 513 for 3 miles

       End at the Rockaway Hibernia Firehouse, 372 Green Pond Rd Rockaway, NJ

Total Miles:  11.6                                  Total Time:  20 minutes

large view Another Trout gets released	large view ...and another...
large view Drew looking for a spot on the stream to release his trout	large view We all enjoyed our 2009 Trout Release!

Teacher Websites © 2009 SchoolWorld