In May, our fourth graders participated in Anacostia Watershed Society’s Schools in Schools program. This program engages elementary students in local conservation efforts to restore the population of American shad, a native fish, in the Anacostia River.
Our students raised shad fry (juvenile fish) from eggs in their classrooms, in hatcheries provided by the Anacostia Watershed Society. Students observed the fish hatch, monitored the water quality of the hatchery, and learned about the fish’s life cycle and development. On May 3, students went on a field trip to Anacostia Park to release the shad fry into the Anacostia River, where the fish will return as adults to spawn.
Our students raised shad fry (juvenile fish) from eggs in their classrooms, in hatcheries provided by the Anacostia Watershed Society. Students observed the fish hatch, monitored the water quality of the hatchery, and learned about the fish’s life cycle and development. On May 3, students went on a field trip to Anacostia Park to release the shad fry into the Anacostia River, where the fish will return as adults to spawn.
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American shad is an anadromous species, which means the fish migrate from the sea to freshwater streams and rivers to spawn. A staple during colonial times, American shad saw a drastic decrease in population over the last century. Thanks to local conservation efforts, like Schools in Schools, American shad are now making a comeback in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers!
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