Submitted by shauna_sherard on Fri, 2016-03-25 09:40 Big Wood River Conservation TU Teens Vote Up Down +37 + Gate Class 2.jpg Trout Unlimited recently took its message of river restoration and watershed protection to 20 elementary school kids in Hailey, Idaho. The children in Hailey Elementary’s Gifted and Talented Education classes had already studied river systems and were an eager audience for TU restoration and conservation projects in the local Big Wood River. TU staffer Cathy Tyson-Foster provided photos and descriptions of local TU projects: willow planting last year in Lake Creek to restore fish habitat; keeping fish in the river and out of drainage ditches by placing a diversion screen in Pebble Creek; ongoing water conservation efforts with irrigators in the Bellevue Triangle; and, planned preservation and restoration of Rock Creek Ranch following years of heavy cattle grazing. After learning what a watershed is and hearing about area TU projects, the 4th & 5th graders used sand, cooked spaghetti, legos and figurines to create a watershed diorama. Another group created a watershed run-off demonstration. Students laid a white trash bag over boxes and crumpled newspaper, then squirted blue water from a spray bottle across the ‘landscape’ to create rivers and lakes. The class then discussed how human activities within the watershed might impact the river and water quality. Tyson-Foster concluded the session by talking about how diverse and many the professions are that engage in river conservation and restoration, including hydraulic engineers, fish biologist, dozer operator, geologists, journalists and artists.