- Five Schools: Piney Branch Elementary School- MD, Sligo Creek Elementary School- MD, Friends Community School- MD, Stuart Hobson Middle School- DC, and River Terrace Elementary School- DC participated in the May 14, 2002 Shad Release Day.
S.H.A.R.E.
Shad/Herring
Awareness & Restoration
Traditionally,
annual runs of millions of anadromous fish played an integral role in
the ecology, as well as economy of the Anacostia River and its tributaries.
Sadly, population declines resulting from pollution, overfishing, and
the loss of spawning habitat have had a tremendous impact on these fish
species. AWS seeks to help restore populations of some important species,
namely the American shad and alewife & blue back
herring through larval fish stocking.
AWS, in partnership with local agencies, other environmental groups, and schools has combined educational classroom sessions with hands-on activities to increase the numbers of larval fish released into two tributaries. Local schoolchildren in Washington, DC and Prince George's & Montgomery Counties, Maryland have raised American shad and herring fry in their classrooms, eventually releasing them into the Anacostia's Northwest Branch.
Visit Sligo Creek Elementary's excellent website about their participation in this project.
Check out the schools in the project and some of the work from Sligo Creek Elementary School.
