PWFWCP News Release
November 16 1998

MACKENZIE -- Thanks to a big effort from the community, about 150 students in Mackenzie and Hudson's Hope will get hands-on experience this year and next raising kokanee from eggs to minnow-sized fry.

Arne Langston, a BC Hydro fisheries biologist with the Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, is coordinating the project.

"The intent is not to promote hatchery production," said Langston, "but to provide students with an educational, hands-on fisheries project opportunity."

The fish eggs were distributed earlier this month to students in four schools: three in Mackenzie and one in Hudson's Hope. They were collected from Kootenay Lake kokanee which were returning to spawn at the Meadow Creek spawning channel north of Nelson.

Over the next eight months, the students will monitor the egg-hatching process using carefully controlled aquarium conditions. Next June, students will release the fry into creeks flowing into Williston reservoir.

During this project, the students will gain an understanding of the fish life cycle, the dangers fish are exposed to, and the role fish play in the ecology of the reservoir.

"By raising the fish, the students will develop a sense of ownership for the health of the streams and reservoir, and an overall appreciation for fish and wildlife resources," Langston said.

Several organizations worked on the project with the Peace/Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, a joint effort by BC Hydro and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks to enhance and protect fish and wildlife within the Williston Reservoir and Dinosaur Reservoir watersheds in north-central B.C.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans donated materials and technical support, and the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks provided the 250 kokanee eggs. The purchase of aquariums and related equipment was made possible by Finlay Forest Industries, Slocan Forest Products (Mackenzie), the Mackenzie Fish and Game Association, Canfor Ltd. (Chetwynd), the BC Hydro office at the W.A.C. Bennett dam, the Lions Club of Hudson's Hope, and the Hudson's Hope Rod and Gun Club.

Participating schools are: Morfee Elementary (Ken Bohn's class); Mountain View Elementary (John Nolan's and Ruth Flynn's classes); Mackenzie Elementary (Marion Talbot's class); and Hudson's Hope School (Janet Hohner's class).

- 30 -