Tri State Steelheaders

Filing Period

Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012

Signed

Nov 15, 2013

Return Version

2012v2.3

Gross Receipts

$338,672

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Education projects project success monitoring through the use of whep (watershed health evaluation procedure) teacher/student teams from eight regional public, private and alternative schools monitored over twenty riparian restoration sites on streams ranging from asotin creek in the east to the touchet river in the west. Currently in its fourteenth year, this ongoing monitoring program provides students with hands-on science experience and teaches watershed health concepts. Participating teachers were trained in monitoring protocols, furnished with professional quality monitoring equipment and workbooks (continued) and lab manuals were provided for student use. Students measured water temperature, stream flow, dissolved oxygen, ph level, macro invertebrate presence, stream bank profiles, and canopy coverage at their assigned project site. Each year students dedicate approximately 1000 hours towards data collection. Salmon in the classroom and hatchery/habitat field trip since 1997, tri-state steelheaders and wdfw's tucannon fish hatchery have partnered with local teachers to raise several hundred fish from egg to fry in walla walla classrooms. This year at garrison middle school and walla walla high school, students observed the development cycle of fish eggs in 55 gallon aquariums. The program allows students to witness first-hand the dynamic changes these fish undergo during their first few months of life. In the fall of 2011, forty 7th grade students from garrison middle school toured the lyons ferry hatchery complex on the snake river to view first- hand the science and technology being used to propagate fall chinook salmon. The group saw salmon being sorted, spawned and screened by wdfw biologists and technicians. Students next visited the lyons ferry koa campground and marina where owner/manager jim macarthur explained the economic benefits and jobs created by local businesses as a result of salmon and steelhead fisheries. Students then travelled to the upper tucannon river where they viewed examples of the natural instream habitat necessary for salmon to spawn and grow in the wild before migrating to the ocean. Dave karl, watershed steward for wdfw, explained the importance of restoring habitat to ensure salmon populations can become sustainable through naturally occurring ecological processes. Funding the for the event was provided through a grant from the lookout foundation and rfeg funds.

Activity 3

Recreation projects kids fishing events in june on free-fishing weekend tri-state steelheaders sponsored its annual kids fishing day event at bennington lake to provide families an opportunity to share the outdoors and introduce local youth to a life-long sport that supports conservation of natural resources. In july tss also assisted with a kids fishing day event at jubilee lake in northeast oregon. During each event fishing tackle, bait, rods and reels were made available to kids at no cost. Young anglers competed for prizes in a casting contest and enjoyed free hot dogs and soda. (continued) these events were made possible by the collaboration of many volunteers, businesses, tss board members, the washington dept. Of fish and wildlife, u.s. Forest service, oregon dept. Of fish and wildlife and u.s. Army corps of engineers.

Filer

EIN

91-1244161