Programs and Events Available to
the Local Community
We collaborate with other partners to conduct outreach and education programs
and make them available to the local community. Listed here are some
of the events in which we participate. For more information on these
events, you may click on any of the following links.
Fish Eggs to Fry. Each year, fourth grade students at Joseph
Elementary School, fifth grade at Wallowa Middle School, and sixth
grade students at Enterprise Middle School raise steelhead trout
in their classrooms, from eggs to alevin to fry. This salmonid
life cycle program is an annual cooperative program that has been
ongoing since 1991 in Wallowa County. The program at each
school includes a classroom incubator, videos, salmon life cycle
presentation, games, and other instructional materials. The
program also includes a dissection of steelhead trout to teach the
students about the external and internal fish anatomy, the fish
structures and their functions, and to help students to understand
the similarities and differences between fish and humans.
In April, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s La Grande Field
Office (FWS), in cooperation with Oregon Department of Fish and
Wildlife (ODFW), the Forest Service, and Wallowa County schools,
assist Wallowa, Enterprise, and Joseph grade schools with setting
up an aquarium in their classrooms. Approximately 400 steelhead
eggs (donated by the ODFW Wallowa Fish Hatchery) are placed in each
classroom aquarium. The aquariums serve as incubators that
contain stream gravel and clean, cold circulating water.
In May, after the fish have developed into fry, they are released
by the students, teachers, a few parents, and the FWS into Marr
Pond (for the Joseph and Enterprise schools), and Weaver Pond (for
the Wallowa school).
Students involved in this project serve as “fish scientists,” (i.e.,
they monitor the fish eggs, alevin, and fry and record water temperatures,
and make other observations). The students learn what salmonids
need to survive, including; clean and cold water, oxygen, clean
gravel, food and protection from predators. The number of
fry that survive from egg to fry is estimated to be at least 95%
(380 fish out of 400 total). That amount is much higher than
the estimate for steelhead in the wild; only about 10% of the eggs
laid by a wild female survive to become fry (which for the classroom
incubator would have been only 40 fish).
Macro-invertebrate Education. In 2006, the
Fish and Wildlife Service’s La Grande Field Office and the Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife, in cooperation with the Forest Service,
Wallowa Resources, and the Nez Perce Tribe, provided a macroinvertebrate
(“Aquatic
Bugs”) presentation to 5th and 6th grade classes at Joseph Middle
School. The “aquatic bug” program was implemented
to give the students a “hands-on” experience for learning
about local freshwater aquatic animals as a part of their science
lesson on vertebrates (animals with backbones) and invertebrates (animals
without backbones).
 The “hands-on” learning included an introduction to
macro-invertebrates. The kids learned only 3% of known animal
species are vertebrates and 97% are invertebrates; the role of macro-invertebrates
in the ecosystem (part of the food chain, indicators of stream health,
part of biodiversity); identification and observation of these critters
(both live and preserved); survey gear biologists use to study for
these aquatic animals; and which macroinvertebrates can tolerate or
not tolerate pollution (for example, stoneflies are indicators of
clean water and midges are indicators of polluted water). The
presentation concluded with a game of tag in which the students represented
tolerant or intolerant aquatic macro-invertebrates and other kids
represented pollution. This game of tag was developed to portray
what happens to the diversity of “aquatic bugs” when streams
become polluted, (the pollution tolerant species increase and biodiversity
decreases).
Wallowa County Watershed Festival. Each year, Wallowa Resources
hosts a Wallowa County Watershed Festival. The Watershed Festival
is the culmination of their education and outreach programs held throughout
the year. Wallowa Resources hosts the Festival to celebrate
natural and cultural resources and their importance to the community. Wallowa
Resources sponsors this event in partnership with the Wallowa
Valley Music Alliance and the Wallowa County Fair Board.
Visitors enjoy hands-on education booths, live local music, and free
grass-fed beef hamburgers donated by local ranchers. Visitors
can build a bird-house, watch stock dog demonstrations, see live raptors,
learn about salmon habitat, win prizes, and much more.
2007 Participants Included:
Salmon Early Life History Research Group
Wallowa
County Search and Rescue Dog Demonstrations
US
Fish and Wildlife Service
Blue
Mountain Wildlife
Future Farmers of America, Joseph Chapter
USDA
Forest Service
Wallowa
County Weed Control
Wallowa Resources
Wallowa Valley Music Alliance
Grande Ronde Model Watershed
International
Center for the Advancement of Pastoral Systems
Nez Perce Tribe
Fisheries
Oregon Deptartment of
Fish & Wildlife
Oregon
State Parks
Roping Demonstrations: Sheriff Fred Steen
Soil & Water
Conservation District
International Migratory Bird Day. Each year, the Ladd Marsh
Wildlife Area near La Grande, Oregon holds bird-a-thons in celebration
of International Migratory Bird Day. This is a co-sponsored
event with the Eastern Oregon University Biology Club, Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Ladd
Marsh is home to nesting American avocets, black-necked stilts, greater
sandhill cranes, several species of waterfowl, Swainson’s hawks,
northern harriers, five species of swallow, five species of owl, yellow
warblers, Bullock’s orioles and many others.
The bird-a-thons are non-competitive family events and once-a-year
opportunities to bird the wildlife area, most of which is closed to
public access during spring and summer to protect nesting birds and
minimize disturbance during brood rearing. Although experienced
birders may explore on their own, six birding stations are staffed
by students and local birders to offer help for beginners in locating
and identifying birds. Birders are encouraged to explore beyond the
stations to a variety of habitats from wetland to hawthorne scrub.
Registration is free but you must register the morning of the event
to receive a permit to be in the wildlife area. Stations are staffed
until noon but the area is open all day for those with permits. These
are family-friendly events; bring your kids for a great day of birding.
For a schedule of events, see ODFW's web page: Third
Annual Ladd Marsh Birdathon.
Free Fishing Day. Free Youth Fishing Clinics
are held throughout northeast Oregon counties in celebration of National
Fishing Week. The
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) allows free fishing
(no licenses required) throughout Oregon during this event. Clinic
sponsors include US Forest Service, ODFW, FWS, Nez Perce Tribe, various
County merchants, and local volunteers.
Participants at the clinic learn new
fishing skills (including how to cast). Participants also learn
about aquatic life and habitat and create fish paintings. Prizes
are given away throughout the day. Extra fishing poles, tackle
and worms are be available on a first-come-basis.
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