Salish Sea Heroes: Jackie Ford’s 3rd Grade Class, Bayview Elementary

Salish Sea Heroes in Jackie Ford’s 3rd grade class at Bayview Elementary rep their love for the Salish Sea. Photo by Mira Lutz Castle, SeaDoc Society

You may think here at SeaDoc we care a whole lot about kids and salmon. I mean, we write about kids and salmon a lot. What’s the big deal about kids and salmon? Well first, kids are cool. Exhibit A: YOU. You’re reading this right now, which means you are likely a Junior SeaDoctor, which means you likely care a whole lot about the sea and wildlife. THAT IS COOL! Also, if cool kids like you are learning how to take good care of salmon, that means 137 other types of wildlife are going to benefit from your care. 137!

Ms. Ford took great care of the coho when the kids weren’t at school. The baby coho arrived as eggs, hatched out as alevin, “buttoned up” (absorbed their yolk sacs), and were free-swimming fry when this photo was taken by Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group.

Which brings us to salmon. What’s not to love? They nourish all those species, even the trees that keep our Pacific Northwest (PNW) so green and, yes, cool. And salmon need our HELP. Humans have caught a lot of salmon. Humans have cut down a lot of trees and paved a lot of ground that used to be woodlands and wetlands that help salmon streams. If we want more salmon for people and wildlife, they will need salmon-safe habitat. Salmon could use a bit more PNW green and cool. Luckily, there are also humans helping salmon, including kids!

Allow me to introduce this month’s Salish Sea Heroes, Ms. Jackie Ford’s 3rd graders at Bayview Elementary near Burlington, WA, whom I got to interview in person.

I WONDER…

This class was curious. They were preparing to raise salmon at school, but had some important questions to answer first. Questions about finding a safe home to release them.

Bayview students charge into their attack on invasive Himalayan blackberries to make way for salmon-supporting native trees and shrubs after instruction from experts, Lucy DeGrace from Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. Photo by Megan Cahill.

Evan wondered what would happen if invasive plant species took over all the other plants at the creek.

Ely wondered (and worried) that the lack of shrubs and trees and the presence of invasive plants, like Himalayan blackberries, may allow mud and silt to fall into the water, clog the baby salmon’s gills, and smother eggs.

Ruby wondered what salmon need to eat.

Charlotte wondered what would we do if we took care of the salmon, what salmon go through in their lifecycle, and how can we help that.

Oliver wondered how they were going to release the coho salmon fry when they got to the creek.

TESTABLE QUESTION

When all this wondering was formed into a question they could answer with science it came to this: Is the creek water clear, cold, and clean? So they set out to test it out. Destination: Hanson Creek, Sedro Woolley.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

First, the young scientists decided to test the stream water for nutrients. Nutrients are necessary for plants and algae to grow, but too many make too many plants and algae and when those die their decomposers use up most the oxygen in the water. Salmon need oxygen!

Next, they made sure the stream had salmon safe structure. Emory shared that trees that fall into the stream could stop the stream and block it for salmon. Her colleagues suggested that fallen trees actually help salmon by providing hidey holes and resting places. They agreed it’s best to have lots of standing trees for shade and bug habitat and some fallen trees in the stream.

Finally, they knew the water needed to be cool, so they measured the temperature.

And they did all of this while keeping a close eye on their teacher because there were trails nearby and she is known to head off to explore any in sight!

Students discuss the creek health with Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Educator, Megan Cahill.

RESULTS

Nutrient levels safe for salmon - Yes

Salmon-safe stream structure - Yes

Water temperature cool - Yes

Plenty of dissolved oxygen - Yes

Healthy riparian shrubs and trees - No

SCIENCE-BASED ACTIONS

These young scientists decided the stream was safe to release their coho fry, with one change to the stream. Blackberries. They got right to work, weeding out the invasive Himalayan blackberries with clippers and shovels to make way for shade- and bug-providing shrubs and trees. And that is science put to work!

How did salmon change their lives?

Here is what Emory shared. “Before we released the salmon or got the salmon I didn’t think a lot about that. I just thought about what was going on in my life and what to do. But then when I learned about salmon I thought it was really important and now I spend a lot of time doing that, learning about salmon.”

Jose shared that he thinks a lot about eating the salmon and most everyone agreed. Especially smoked salmon.

Noah shared that he learned about more he could do for animals.

How did their lives change the salmon?

Ms. Ford’s class learned how important salmon are to people and wildlife and wanted to make sure there are plenty for all to eat. So, they helped repair damaged riparian habitat. They told me that this not only helped the salmon, but the bears who eat them and even the trees who use their nutrients after the animals leave their carcasses to nourish the soil.

Ely releases coho salmon fry into Hanson Creek while Megan Cahill, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group educator looks on. Go fry go! Photo by Lucy DeGrace, Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group

Allison (left) and Natalie pause from cutting back and digging out invasive Himalayan blackberry bushes to make way for salmon-helping plants to grow at Hanson Creek.

One thing we are sure of is that these kids are officially Salish Sea Heroes.

It fills our hearts to know what teachers like Jackie Ford have done to bring out their inner Salish Sea Heroes. We wish her all the best in her retirement and hope she’ll get to wander down some trails!