pages 36-37 of the UWP Educator’s Guide to Teaching Students About the Upper Uncompahgre River Watershed (also see contents, introduction & pdf link)
Year Two curriculum is comprised of several in-class lessons from Project Wet’s Aquatic Wild curriculum shown on the following pages:
- Fishable Waters (lesson activities, followed by Student Field Data Collection Sheet and Fish Biography cards specific to Ridgway Reservoir and the Unc River below the dam)
- Watered Down History (see also history of Ouray County water, specifically Ridgway Reservoir, in the lessons folder)
- What’s in the Water
After these in-class lessons, students will be ready for a half-day outing at Ridgway Reservoir where students will:
- Tour the Dam (led by TriCounty Water).
- Fish in the Ponds (led by CPW Staff at Ridgway State Park)
- Understand and identify fish species caught in this part of the Uncompahgre River (led by local Gunnison Anglers and Trout Unlimited field biologist)
- Collect macroinvertibrates and evaluate the riparian habitat of the River just below the Dam. These waters are considered a “gold medal trout fishery” as the habitat is excellent and the water quality is very high (see Fishable Waters Lesson, Fishable Waters Student Field Data Sheet to Determine Fishery Health, and Fish Biography cards)
Questions for Students to Explore:
- How does water impact life?
- What is the history of water usage in this watershed (ranching, agriculture, beavers, people)? Visit to Ridgway Reservoir Dam. Elements of fish habitat and comparison of river before and after the reservoir (When appropriate, explore fish shocking with CPW staff).
- Have there been changes to the landscape and surface flow? Review historic maps. Beaver activity? Plant and riparian areas necessary for wildlife—nymphs for fish? (Class lesson option: Make a field guide to plant, smaller fish, and insect species trout depend on)
- Added lessons can be developed: How does drought, season, and climate change affect the watershed (historic data collection and analysis). Review streamflow qualitative data: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/inventory?site_no=09146020&agency_cd=USGS as well as explore how water usage is affected by different users (agriculture, ranching, etc.) kid friendly data and useful Data Sheets, Forms & Documents – River Watch of Colorado River Watch Info Measuring streamflow field activity? Local sites are tested monthly and nutrients are tested 2x year (during high and low flow). Explore why this is good timing for nutrient testing?
See the worksheet folder for printable masters of Student Worksheets and Fish Biography Cards, which can be laminated for student field use.
Outcomes for Grades 6/7: poster competition demonstrating knowledge gained from these lessons.
Outcomes for Grade 8: develop grading criteria and judge poster competition.
