HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 19, 2023 B-04CITY OF AGENDA ITEM
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CALIFORNIA
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Presentation of Earth Day Proclamation Recognizing Lodi Unified School District
Educators in the 2022/23 "Salmon in the Classroom Program"
MEETING DATE: April 19, 2023
PREPARED BY: Public Works Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Presentation of Earth Day Proclamation recognizing the Lodi Unified
School District Educators in the 2022/23 "Salmon in the Classroom
Program".
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Since 2000, the City of Lodi Public Works Department, has overseen a
watershed education outreach program to help meet the stormwater
permit requirements outlined in the "National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems."
Since 2015, the City of Lodi has partnered with Lodi Unified School District (LUSD) teachers to help sponsor a
"Salmon in the Classroom Program" as a way to connect students to the Mokelumne River watershed, hoping
to encourage them to see the river and watershed area as a unique ecosystem worthy of protection and
stewardship.
Since 2020, LUSD Science Coaches have taken the helm for the program and expanded its reach to include
securing funding sources for more tanks and equipment, providing teacher workshops, fish tank build days,
on-line curriculum resources and scheduled activity release day events. In the 2022/23 school year,
approximately 1,200 students from forty classrooms were able to participate, receiving 1,400 salmon eggs
from the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery to their classroom in January, then raising them and returning them
to the river once they fully developed to the fry stage, in late February and early March. LUSD teachers who
participated are to be commended for their dedication achieving a salmon survival rate of nearly 95%.
Program success is due to the many partnerships spawned in the Lodi region, including the Department of
Fish and Wildlife, Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, East Bay Municipal Utility District, Delta Fly Fishers, City of
Stockton, San Joaquin County Office of Education, San Joaquin County -Public Works, and the Upper
Mokelumne Stewardship Through Education, who all play key roles in the delivery, raising and/or educational
needs of the "Salmon in the Classroom" environmental education program for San Joaquin County students.
The City of Lodi recognizes the hard work and dedication of LUSD staff, teachers, parents and partners who
have served in the 2022/23 "Salmon in the Classroom" program. This group of outstanding role models and
team players, demonstrate to the Lodi and the San Joaquin County region, that the 2023 Earth Day ethic,
"Invest in Our Planet", begins at home when we invest time and energy into our youth and in our local
watershed's stewardship.
A representative of Lodi Unified School District will be preset to accept the proclamation.
CLOW
Charles E. Swimley, Jr.
Public Works Director
Prepared by Kathy Grant, Watershed Program Coordinator
Stephen Schwabauer, City Manager
R:\GROUPWDMIN\Council\2023\04192023\Earth Day Proclamation\Council Communication- Earth Day- 2023- final doc
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