Monterey Bay Salmon & Trout Project

By Hugh Miller

It's now April, and we are well into the school year. Yes, time passes by very quickly. In our last article of October, we wrote that we had few STEP (Salmon and Trout Education Program) activities happening at that time. Then, it was the beginning of the school year. Now, at this time, in contrast, STEP activities are extremely busy (some say "fever-pitch") as we find ourselves in the egg distribution and incubation phase of our program.

A month ago, a team of six STEP support, adult members met with Jennifer Nelson of California State Fish and Game for the processing of 121 STEP egg application permits. Yes, despite the limitations of the recent 4-D ruling of NMFS...saying that releases must be limited to either the San Lorenzo and/or Scott Creek Watersheds...a total of 121 area classes still asked (by way of permit submittal) to be included in the STEP incubation activities...despite the logistics problems of releases. A number of schools, with the 4-D ruling in effect, need to travel further distances now for their release of fry. This response shows "a lot" in regard to the teacher and student enthusiasm for STEP.

Just recently, we started the distribution of the San Lorenzo Steelhead eggs to area classes. Previous communications to teachers, mostly by email, indicated that we were on a tight schedule estimated to be after April 23rd for the movement of San Lorenzo eggs from our Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Restoration Hatchery to assigned (permitted) classrooms. The schedule was "tighter" than usual this year because fewer adult fish were available for STEP eggs. The 4-D ruling, with its limitation and/or restriction of select males and females narrowed the window of opportunity for the taking of spawning fish. But, we were ready....that is, until we got word that the available eggs (from one female) were going to be ready a week earlier than expected. Mother Nature and warmer weather encouraged quicker development of the available eggs. Thankfully, we had a lot of member and teacher support, at the last minute to allow a hurried response to the change and allow the start of egg distribution at the earlier time. Most of the San Lorenzo eggs have now, at this time, been distributed to classrooms.

In another nine days or so, we expect to have the Scotts Creek eggs available for distribution for most of our North Coast schools. By the way, this is the last of this year's Scotts Creek female eggs available at the Hatchery. So, we'll be just getting "under the wire" with available Scotts Creek eggs.

During this initial phase of the San Lorenzo egg distribution, it was heartening to see the great response of teachers and support members helping out with the distribution (as part of the 121 classes) to a large geographical area. People were on call and meeting in designated areas for the handing-off of egg packets...each person ready, with ice chest, to make the next drive to designated classrooms. Also, as always, the students showed their enthusiasm and expressed their thanks to visiting members. In a short time, we can expect many student letters and student drawings expressing "thanks."

Get ready, now, though, for the next busy session. For shortly, perhaps in three weeks after classroom incubation, 121 classrooms will be planning releases to either the San Lorenzo or Scotts Creek. Many of the STEP teachers will be asking your support for their fieldtrips....seeking adult support as chaperones and streamside mentors. As many know, participation in these fieldtrips can be fun and rewarding....for everyone.

Many times, it feels like we are "swimming upstream" with the challenges of our STEP activities. But the members, teachers and students participating in STEP can attest, after the fact, that it's been, and continues to be, a worthwhile program. Most agree that the future of our important native steelhead and coho rests, in large part, in the hands of our enthusiastic, young students associated with STEP.

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