OCR Text |
Show Middle School Students Visit Forest Projects Students of Panguitch Middle School went on an educational field trip with 'Pete' Pierson from the Forest Service Office as their guide. First they stopped at the Tropic Reservoir. Here they saw the spring that helps feed the reservoir. Mr. Pierson explained that part of the water from the Tropic reservoir syphened up and taken into the Tropic, Cannonville and Henrieville valleys. This the only place where water is taken out of the Great Basin and put into the Colorado river drainage. The group stopped at several places and compared favorable and unfavorable areas for fisheries. Pierson explained that where the water is shaded with either trees, willows or green growth in the water it makes warmer water for the fish, the foilage makes more food for them and also provides a place they can hide from the predators. He also explained that the fish lay their eggs in places that have more gravel which protects the eggs. The next stop was at the Beaver Dams in the Blubber Creek Canyon here they were able to view a working beaver dam. As soon as the beavers notice a leak in the dam they quickly set to the task of repairing the damage. "We try to keep the beavers up in the mountain parts because when they are around the irrigation ditches they dam up the culverts, causing big problems," Pierson said. He also explained that the beaver go under water to get to their entrance but the homes are built above the water. After stopping for lunch the group was taken to the site the Harding Brothers are logging with horses. The horses have such large feet they wear a size six shoe, they weight about 2,000 pounds each and cost between $1,000 to $1,500 a piece, they are Belgian horses. At one time while the kids were there Mr. Harding put seven kids on one of the horses at a time to illustrate how tame the horses are. "The children has even taught one of them to smile back at them." one student said. While the students watched four trees were dropped and skidded by the horses. Comments among the students expressed that they thought the trip was very interesting and educational and they were happy the teachers took them on this field trip and also that Mr. Pierson took time out of his busy schedule to explain the many points of interest to them |