Engineering Fish Passage at Howard Hanson Dam

How and why was the original dam constructed? What happened to salmon populations when it was completed? Is there a plan for engineering fish passage? How would you do it? Engages students in a wicked, real-world engineering design challenge that matters to their community. Will Orca and Salmon populations benefit? What is the status of the habitat above the dam? Who are the stakeholders? We will explore fish passage engineering strategies at other Northwest dams as well as ecosystem recovery data in the upper Elwha Watershed where a dam has been removed.

Science, engineering, civics, economics, geographic literacy, ELA, and media arts are integrated to produce a fish passage plan and to present it to the stakeholders involved in this issue. Career pathways are explored related to dam engineering and salmon biology and watershed management. The Lab features interaction with technical experts as well as a team of highly capable students from the Sustainability Ambassadors Youth Leadership Program. Teacher teams from across the curriculum are encouraged. You and your colleagues are invited to sign up for one, some, or all of the Labs in the Series.

This Focus Lab is part of the ongoing Green-Duwamish Watershed PBL Curriculum Design Lab Series with funding support from the King County Wastewater Treatment Division WaterWorks Grants Program, and the Puget Sound Stewardship & Mitigation Fund, a grantmaking fund created by the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment.

Teacher Learning Goals

1. Demonstrate an understanding of issues and opportunities related to engineering salmon passage at the Howard Hanson Dam.
2. Design, adopt or refine one or more related lesson ideas.
3. Apply STEM literacy across disciplines and promote college/career pathways to inspire students.

REGISTER TODAY to hold your spot. Bring a Team.

Questions?  Email: Peter Donaldson