Press Release ADF&G Logo
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME
Sam Cotten, Commissioner

DIVISION OF SPORT FISH
Tom Brookover, Director

Contact:
Jenny Cope
Sport Fish Biologist
Phone: 907-262-9368

May 04, 2016

KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SALMON CELEBRATION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 11TH

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish will hold its 16th annual Kenai Peninsula Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Johnson Lake State Park Campground in Kasilof.

Approximately 925 elementary students from Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will help release hatchery-raised rainbow trout catchables into Johnson Lake. Students will also release coho salmon fry into Arc Lake that same day. These fry were developed from eggs students collected in October from an ADF&G “egg take” and placed in classroom aquariums as part of the “Salmon in the Classroom” program.

Hands-on salmon-related activity booths including juvenile and adult salmon identification, salmon life-cycle displays, a macroinvertebrate touch tank, information on catch-and-release fishing, spin and fly casting practice stations, the salmon “wheel of misfortune”, water quality testing, water and wildlife safety, waterfowl identification, stream flow demonstrations, and many more activities will also be setup for students to visit. Students need 90 minutes to two hours to complete all the activities.

The salmon-related activity booths are part of the Aquatic Education program, which helps increase awareness of salmon and fosters a sense of stewardship toward this valuable natural resource. This event is made possible by the volunteer assistance of Sterling Elementary students, ADF&G staff, Alaska State Parks and the Kenai River Professional Guide Association, along with many other agencies and community volunteers.

For more information or to schedule elementary-age student attendance, contact ADF&G Sport Fish biologist Jenny Cope in Soldotna at 907-262-9368, or e-mail jenny.cope@alaska.gov .