Students from Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in State College were instrumental in helping restore and conserve parts of Romola Branch near Howard.
With the help of the United States Youth Fly Fishing Team and Trout Unlimited, along with the financial support of Patagonia, students’ efforts will have an immediate and long-term impact both locally and nationally. The project will reduce the collection of sediment that ends up in Bald Eagle Lake and Chesapeake Bay, as well as improving the stream habitat.
Students helped to construct wild trout in-stream habitat enhancement structures and built structures to prevent erosion along the bank of the stream. They used sledgehammers to drive rebar into cut and fallen trees. Stream rocks were then shingled in the structure. The log, rebar and rocks will redirect the stream, prevent erosion and add habitats to the creek near Bald Eagle.
John Ford, president of the United States Youth Fly Fishing Team Inc., spearheads this effort and was able to secure grants from Patagonia and from the S. Kent Rockwell Foundation to undertake the Wild Trout Habitat Projects.
“We invite students to gain an understanding and participate in the care of our Pennsylvania waters,” Ford said. “The student’s involvement will create improvements to the stream that will last for years. Our goal is to give the students stream-side opportunities to promote conservation awareness and hands-on projects.”
OLVCS seventh grade student Thomas Rokita shared more about his experience.
“Everyone upstream has an impact downstream,” he said. “Restoring the stream helps the wildlife thrive not only here, but in the oceans and bays. We built deflectors which didn’t just provide fish with more swimmable waters, but also with more food. Bugs like living in the deflectors, which become the food for the ecosystem.”
Lisa Grove, eighth grade science teacher at OLVCS adds, “This was an outstanding learning opportunity for our students. They put into action what they are learning in the classroom. The students got to see first hand the importance of taking care of God’s creation. This experience built a foundation of respect for taking care of our environment that they will take with them. Plus, it is really fun to swing a sledge hammer!”
OLVCS looks forward to continuing to participate with the Wild Trout Habitat Projects in the future.
