Service fishery biologist Mark Steingraeber discusses characteristics of watersheds and actions to improve water quality with grade school students attending River Education Days at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Photo credit: USFWS.

River Education Days, co-sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a popular springtime educational event for children at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge.  Held rain or shine in the great outdoors, it has become a popular annual field trip for many fifth grade students from public and private schools throughout southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. 

Designed to bring children and nature closer together, more than 1100 students came to this year’s two-day (May 6-7) event where each class participated in four fun-filled activities and informative presentations selected from among more than 20 different offerings.  Among those helping to connect these children with nature was Service fishery biologist Mark Steingraeber, from the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, who explained the characteristics of a healthy watershed, land use practices that cause non-point source pollution, and the consequences of polluted surface water for fish, wildlife, and people living downstream.  At the conclusion of his presentations, Steingraeber had dispensed “prescriptions” for cleaner water to nearly 200 students who were encouraged to inform their family members of actions they can take to improve surface water quality by: picking up pet waste; capturing storm water runoff in rain barrels and gardens; cautiously applying pesticides and fertilizers; recycling unwanted consumer products; and safely disposing of unwanted medications without flushing them into sewer systems.  After all, not everyone is fortunate enough to live upstream!