To better understand the hydrology of their neighboring island, Petersburg middle schoolers mapped Coho Creek on July 30.
The trip to Kupreanof Island was part of the summertime Wonder Camp series facilitated by the Petersburg Public Library and Alaska Sea Grant, a marine science education organization. The camp provides opportunities for middle schoolers to learn more about the environment around them, with the help of experts.
This trip’s expert was Emil Tucker, a hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service. Tucker and his team have collected water and fish data at over 50,000 points around Southeast Alaska — but he had never been up Coho Creek before. It’s off the road system and a short boat ride away from Petersburg, which is why he picked it for the mapping adventure.
As they hiked up the river, the group stopped periodically to record temperature and dissolved oxygen levels in the water, making sure it was healthy for fish.
But the group didn’t focus solely on the water. They learned about the rocks and plants that make up the creek ecosystem, as well as the coho salmon that inspired the creek’s name. The kids caught a few fish with a small net for inspection.
“You know a coho by those marks on the side, see?” Tucker said to the kids as they peered at the fish in the net. “These guys were born this year, and probably somewhere near here.”
About a quarter mile up the creek, the water rushed more rapidly, flowing off large slabs of jagged bedrock; that was rising seventh grader Kade Norheim’s favorite part of the hike.
“You’re just walking along, and then you see, like, a 10-foot-deep pool right in front of you … and then there’s these waterfalls, but it’s like slanted bedrock, so the water’s kind of coming at an angle,” Kade described. “I thought that was really cool.”
Mike Stainbrook, 73, is Kade’s grandfather. He lived remotely on Kupreanof Island for over a decade, and brought that experience along with them on the group’s creek mapping adventure.
“I hope they take away an appreciation of Coho Creek and this whole estuary,” Stainbrook said while waiting for the boat back to Petersburg. “It’s pretty special.”
Tucker said middle school is a key age for inspiring kids to consider a career in science.
“You never know which one of them are going to … grow up to be scientists,” Tucker said. “I always have my fingers crossed.”
The Wonder Camp series will continue throughout August, with Botany and Printmaking on Aug. 6 and Beach Walk and Acrylic Painting on Aug. 11.
Editor’s Note: Emil Tucker is a member of KFSK’s volunteer Board of Directors, which is not involved in news coverage.
