G.W. Stout students raise and release endangered Gila trout

Sixth-graders participate in Trout in the Classroom program to help restore native fish population

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:00am

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Students at G.W. Stout Elementary School in Silver City, New Mexico raised Gila trout from eggs and released the fingerlings into Lake Roberts as part of a Trout in the Classroom program. The Gila trout is a threatened species that was once endangered due to the introduction of non-native trout species. The program aims to engage students in conservation efforts and help restore the native fish population.

Why it matters

The Gila trout is a native species to the Gila River in New Mexico that was nearly wiped out due to competition and interbreeding with non-native trout. Programs like Trout in the Classroom help educate the next generation about the importance of protecting threatened species and their habitats, which have been further impacted by large wildfires in the Gila National Forest.

The details

Keith Rogers' sixth-grade science students at G.W. Stout Elementary received Gila trout eggs from the Mora Fish Hatchery in April 2025 and raised the fish in their classroom. Of the original 34 eggs, 18 fish survived, which is an excellent record according to Gila Trout Project Manager Eric Head. The students fed the fish daily, monitored the water chemistry, and watched the tiny fry grow into fingerlings. On the one-year anniversary of receiving the eggs, the students carefully released the fish into Lake Roberts using nets.

  • On April 2, 2025, the students received the Gila trout eggs.
  • The eggs hatched about 10 days later, entering the 'alevin' stage.
  • Another week to 10 days after that, the fish became 'fry' or tiny fish.
  • On Thursday, April 4, 2026, the students released the fingerling trout into Lake Roberts.

The players

Keith Rogers

The sixth-grade science teacher at G.W. Stout Elementary School who oversaw the Trout in the Classroom program.

Eric Head

The Gila Trout Project Manager who provided the trout eggs and helped with the release.

Patrick Lamb

The secretary of the Gila/Rio Grande Chapter of Trout Unlimited, a conservation organization that runs the Trout in the Classroom program.

Harley Miller

A 12-year-old sixth-grade student at G.W. Stout who participated in raising the Gila trout.

Maury Chude

A 12-year-old sixth-grade student at G.W. Stout who learned that Gila trout don't eat until they reach the 'fry' stage.

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What they’re saying

“They are a very rare species in Silver City, and it was fun raising some. I'd never seen an actual trout before.”

— Harley Miller, Sixth-grade student

“This is really significant, because it's the first time that Gila trout, which were once endangered, have been involved in a program like this and released back into the wild.”

— Patrick Lamb, Secretary, Gila/Rio Grande Chapter of Trout Unlimited

What’s next

The five fastest-growing Gila trout from the classroom aquarium were removed and placed in a display tank at the Forest Service office, where they will remain until they are large enough to be released without being cannibalized by the other fish.

The takeaway

Programs like Trout in the Classroom engage students in hands-on conservation efforts to help restore threatened species like the Gila trout, which has faced population declines due to non-native fish introductions and habitat loss from wildfires in the Gila National Forest.