Mr. Aubrey’s landscaping class has been working on a very important project for about a year now.
With a grant from the U.S. Fish and Game, they have been saving Cienega Creek’s ecosystem.
With the help of Mr. Keck and his construction class they have built a shed.
This shed holds the supplies such as the tools, the irrigation system and all of the electrical work. Laying out the design for the new ecosystem has just begun.
“We are going to be setting up a safe harbor for the fish here at school to breed and replenish the population in the wild,” Aubrey said.
“I think it’s a good idea that we’re building a pond,” said Travis Roblow, one of the many students helping to build the environment.
The safe harbor is also going to be an environmental garden to help show people how to reserve, preserve, and recycle.
Students spent time counting fish in order , “to get an accurate read on how the fish are doing in the wild,” said Aubrey.
“This fish count is just one process in many we will go through to ensure the Cienega Interactive Eco-Garden is a complete success,” Aubrey said.
The project may seem miniscule, but there is much more involved.
It isn’t just Cienega that is involved, but the Bureau of Land Managment, the Nature Conservency, and the U.S. Fish and Game.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s a lot of work, but it’s really worth it,” said Josh Hunt, landscape student.
With a permit from the U.S. Fish and Game and the Arizona Fish and Game to harvest fish and plants from Cienega Creek. They plan to save the Gila Topminnow, Desert Pupfish, Gila Chub, Chiracoua Leopard Frog, and many of the indigenous plants that dwell in the creek.
The landscaping class has already gone to Cienega Creek and examined the wildlife.
“We looked at Cienega Creek and the fish; we learned about the habitat so we could build our own,” said Zach DeGroot, another landscape student.
“Our goal is to educate students about reserve, preserve, and recycle to ensure a more promising future,” said Aubrey.
The pond is going to be constructed on the north side of the 600 building where the practice fields reside.
“We have already completed the shed, the handicapped accessable raised gardens, and the fence is being fabricated out of recycled steel,” said Aubrey.