Coal Creek Health Day
28 October 2005
All about the health
of the creek and how it
parallels with the health of
the students and their
environment...
|
Volunteer scientist Chuck Gouffon
lets student Victoria help sort
through the critters found in Coal Creek |
| This year's Coal Creek Health Day was different
from previous events. The
previous four Health Days included free
dental and medical exams for students in addition to studying the health of
Coal Creek. Briceville Medical Clinic is now open one day a week and
providing medical services for free to people who work, but have no
insurance, and the school has a part time nurse on staff.
With these needs being addressed, volunteers from the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation (CCWF),
Clinch River
Trout Unlimited (TU), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and University of
Tennessee (UT) concentrated on teaching students how to study the health of
Coal Creek that flows right beside their school. |
Coal Creek is home to
some pretty healthy fish |
|
Have you kissed your
Hognosed Sucker fish today?! |
Spin and fly fishing casting lessons |
|
First graders listen intently to
TU/TVA/CCWF volunteer
John Thurman
tell them the names of the fish and bugs |
How cool to have a creek running right beside your school.
It's a living laboratory!! The smart and well-behaved Briceville
School students from Pre-K to fifth grade were treated to "shocking"
demonstrations by TVA personnel, fly-tying and line casting lessons from
Clinch River Trout Unlimited members, and bug and fish lessons.
Tables were set up at the creek
to display fish and critters collected by the students.
The lessons taught the kids how the health of the creek is determined by
studying what lives in it. |
| Click on the images below to get a glimpse
of the fun we had! Also,
see the list below showing all the fish species found in Coal Creek today, along
with a list of the great volunteers that made the day so educational and
fun!
Photos in no certain order... |
 |
| VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED:
Buffington, Buzz (TU)
Fly, Mark (TU/UT)
Foster, Tiffany (TVA/TU)
Gouffon, Chuck (TVA)
McMahan, Denny (TU)
Moore, Carol (CCWF/TU)
Saylor, Charlie (TVA)
Thacker, Barry (CCWF/TU)
Thurman, John (TU/TVA/CCWF) |
DIFFERENT FISH
SPECIES
FOUND IN
COAL CREEK TODAY:
|
Banded Sculpiin
Redline Darter
Greenside Darter
Hog Sucker
Golden Redhorse
Rock Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Redbreast Sunfish
Sand Shiner
Northern Studfish
Blacknose Dace
Black Redhorse |
|
Striped Shiner
Rosefin Shiner
Bigeye Chub
Spotfin Shiner
Bluntnose Minnow
Stone Roller
Creek Chub
Snubnose Darter
Blueside Darter
|
|
|
