Kendall Elementary School is located approximately twenty-six miles east of Bellingham, Washington. Kendall Creek Students in fourth – sixth grades have been part of improving fish habitat for the last three years on Kendall Creek. Kendall Creek, a tributary to the Nooksack River, is adjacent to Kendall Elementary School providing easy access for student visits. We are fortunate to work closely with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and the Kendall Fish Hatchery on our restoration project.

The Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) has provided teacher training, materials, classroom presentations, assessment tools, field study guides, on-site presentations, and shrubs and trees for Kendall Creek’s restoration project. Most of all, they’ve provided constant support, enthusiasm and proficiency in the field of habitat restoration and water quality studies.

Here is their site: NSEA

Kendall Creek

Kendall Creek Fish Hatchery has provided class presentations, field trips, support and expertise on raising salmon in the classroom. We received 250 Coho salmon eggs from the hatchery that are currently at the Alevin stage of development for our 50-gallon fish tank at Kendall Elementary School. These salmon will be released into Kendall Creek in spring. Attached to our tank is a Flex-Camera that lets us view the inside action of the tank on a TV screen. You can also watch minute-by-minute updates of the tank on this website.

We’d like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to Jack Short for setting our tank up for us this year. He has raised salmon for release at the Mount Baker Junior High for a number of years and has been an invaluable participant in the success of our project this year.

Students in Mrs. Arrigoni’s, Mrs. Chellsons, Mrs. Davis’ and Mrs. Shepherd’s classrooms are conducting water quality tests on Kendall Creek. This data can be viewed on the Nature Mapping web site. Our salmon tank is also being tested to ensure proper water conditions for salmon survival.

Averages___

Water Quality Tests Conducted Weekly: Kendall Creek Salmon Tank

Temperature 47 degrees F 44-48 degrees F

Water pH 7.3 7.4-7.6

Ammonia 0-1 ppm 0-1 ppm

Nitrates 0.1 0.1

DO (dissolved oxygen) .9 .9

Salmon need to be in water temperatures of 42 – 48 degrees F. They need a pH of 7 – 8 and a DO (dissolved oxygen) value of 90 percent to remain healthy. Ammonia levels should remain at 0-1 ppm. (Parts per million) and nitrates at 0.1 mg N/liter

Fifth and sixth grade students collect the data above and record it on the Nature Mapping website. This site lists creeks, rivers, lakes and ponds where studies like ours are being conducted on water quality throughout Washington.

Here is their site: NSEA

Kendall Creek

Mt Baker School District - Kendall Elementary School - Kendall Salmon Cam