Colton seventh graders raise steelhead for release

Ninety-one baby steelhead swim back and forth under the watchful eyes of Colton seventh-graders Phil Niehenke, Tyler Neely and Avin Lee (front to back). For a class project, 20 seventh grade science students will take care of the little fish for the next few months. Once the fish grow about two inches, the students will release them into the Clearwater River. The eggs, tank and fish care chemicals were all provided by the Dworshak Reservoir to Eric Nordquist’s science class.

You can’t touch them, you can’t eat them, and you can’t tap the tank. Still, the 91 little steelhead swimming in the 50-...