County students learn about environment

THOMPSON FALLS – Students from schools across Sanders County packed onto buses in the early morning hours last week for a day of hands on outdoor learning.

Thompson Falls State Park, located just west of the town’s downtown area was the destination for students, mostly fifth graders, from the county’s schools as the annual Sanders County Water Festival was held on Tuesday, Oct. 7. From 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Students from Plains, Thompson Falls, Noxon, Hot Springs and Dixon were all in attendance for a day full of activities where the young students learned about wayward weeds, the local enviroscape, wildlife tracks, forestry, fisheries and riparian zones.

Each of the above learning sections lined the banks of the Clark Fork River at the edge of the park and a number of experts were on hand to lend their expertise to the local students.

At one of the learning station’s Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks District One Conservation Technician Jay Stuckey was on hand to teach students about the migratory behavior of regional bull trout species.

Stuckey explained it is illegal for anglers to keep bull trout and the species faces many obstacles on their migratory journeys from humans and aquatic predators.

Students were better able to understand the difficulties facing bull trout populations by partaking in a game, where the majority of the group, acting as bull trout, had to run through a course filled with students acting as predatory fish and fisherman.

Initially, when the students in the trout group attempted to negotiate the obstacle course as individuals they had little success, but when they worked together as a cohesive unit they were better able to get through the obstacles of the exercise.

The bull trout is one of the largest native fish species in Montana and they are capable of growing up to three feet long and weighing up to 25 pounds.

Though once common throughout the northwestern portion of the United States the bull trout population has faced a serious decline over the past several decades and many conservation groups are working to maintain and improve current population levels of the prized native species.

Area students had another opportunity to learn about the importance of the Clark Fork River to humans and wildlife in Sanders County from Tim Ryan of Polson.

Ryan who works in cultural resource compliance and heritage education at EthnoTech, LLC, spoke to students at the Native American Riparian learning station.

Ryan, an archeologist who helped map Lewis & Clark’s route through Montana explained the importance of a healthy river to the entire community.

He showed the students a traditional willow fish trap, used to catch fish in the Clark Fork River.

Ryan explained how the traps were set after trout had spawned, noting when the needles of the tamarack tree changed color, it is a good indicator bull trout are laying their eggs, to ensure a stable and healthy food source.

“The traps are set up after trout lay their eggs to keep populations healthy,” Ryan said.

Ryan went on to show students the usefulness of flora found in riparian zones including that of Dogbone, which was a ribbon of bark used by many Native American tribes as cordage.

Last week’s daylong learning experience marked the 12th annual water festival held in Sanders County and the Green Mountain Conservation District of Trout Creek and the Eastern Sanders County Conservation District covering Plains, Hot Springs and Dixon hosted this year’s event.