Biologist Nick Starzl describing the characteristics which make lake sturgeon unique during the 2008 Blackhawk Park Kid's Fishing Day. fws photo

The Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH) assisted our neighbors on the river by staffing an outreach display during the educational portion of their 2008 Kids' Fishing Day held this August. The Corps of Engineers Blackhawk Park facility holds an annual Kids' Fishing Day that typically draws participants from the three-state (Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) area.  The hatchery was on hand to set up an aquarium and display featuring Upper Mississippi River fish and mussels for over 100 kids to see and touch live sturgeon, mussels, and various fish replicas. The participants were broken into three separate groups to see the three 25-minute presentations on angling techniques, forestry, and fish identification. After the informational clinics, the children headed down to the riverbank to catch "the big one". This cooperative effort is a unique opportunity to partner with another federal agency to promote a conservation message to the next generation of natural resource stewards.