WMCAT – Trout Unlimited and the Rogue River Watershed

Trout Unlimited is a cold water conservation organization that works on a national level conserving and protecting cold water fisheries and watersheds around the country. The
organization partnered with Rockford Public Schools in 2016 and the surrounding communities to analyze the rivers and test the waters to see how it affects the Rogue River watershed.

Trout Unlimited worked specifically with Parkside Elementary and their students to install a rain garden. During the process the kids were able to research rain gardens and learn how they can help divert water from storm drains that feed into the Rogue River. The students put an action plan together and presented their findings and suggestions to the school board for approval to start the creation of the rain garden.

The rain garden at Parkside Elementary is still up and running and consists of native plants from the area. Students of all ages participate by helping to keep it clean and to weed it, as needed.

Students who attended Parkside Elementary and participated in the project said that it was very beneficial and a completely new experience for them. The project also helped them realize the difference it was making on the Great Lakes as well as the rivers around them. Tara Dzirbowis, a teacher at Parkside Elementary explained, “It gives the kids a real world experience in doing the research and informs them on how projects like these can help the rivers and the community.”

The rain garden project has had a huge impact on the community and the students involved by informing them about rain gardens and giving them insight on what they can do to
help their rivers. Trout Unlimited has also worked on other projects throughout the community by turning areas that used to be lawns near storm drains into an area where native plants can grow.

Nichol Demol, who is a part of Trout Unlimited shared, “Over the course of nine years we have been spreading the word about stormwater practices in Rockford and have seen how it has affected the local government’s way of seeing the river and its tributaries.” Nichol encourages those interested in helping conserve local watersheds or streams to research watershed organizations in their local communities. Many offer various volunteering opportunities such as spring and fall stream clean-ups, and ways to invest in protecting local streams and rivers.

Trout Unlimited Project Student Names 

  • Article by Arieal Jackson
  • Photography by Dagan McClure-Sikkema
  • Videography and editing by Tris Cunningham, Micah Garmon, Arieal Jackson, Elias Vandyke-Titus, and Mike Saunders