This sign warns about fish consumption for the Tittabawassee River in Michigan.

Genoa National Fish Hatchery (NFH) gives dozen of hatchery tours and school presentations each year.  The fact that many of these schools keep returning yearly and requesting speakers is a testimony to the value of the conservation message being provided and to the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  In October, Genoa NFH was asked for the third straight semester to be a part of Waukon Junior High School’s environmental studies unit for more than 200 seventh and eighth graders.  This semester’s presentation covered hazardous chemicals and pharmaceuticals in America’s surface waters.  The presentations began by Genoa’s mussel biologist entering the room in a heavy duty SCUBA dry suit and full facemask.  The dry suit helped introduce hazardous chemical like dioxins that pollute many streams preventing recreational uses such as swimming and fish consumption.  The second half of the presentation covered the increasing amounts of prescription and over the counter pharmaceuticals being found in our surface waters.  Information provided by the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was presented showing how increasing levels of pharmaceuticals are affecting fish and mussel reproduction by increasing hormone levels that cause male fish to produce eggs, and causing the premature release of larval mussels called glochidia.  Information about the pharmaceutical collection center in La Crosse was provided to spread the word in Iowa about the collection center which is located within a reasonable drive for the people in Waukon.  The take home message for the students was that simple actions that we do everyday can impact our environment, both positively and negatively.