Edmond FFA Members Build Fish Habitats
Members of the Edmond FFA Chapter recently took part in a hands-on conservation project aimed at improving fish populations in local waters. Working alongside the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, students in the wildlife class constructed 31 artificial fish habitats that will be placed in area lakes to provide shelter, feeding areas and breeding spaces for fish.
The project required teamwork, organization and careful construction as students assembled cube-shaped habitats using PVC pipe and other materials. According to junior Summer Harris, the process involved several people working together on different parts of the structure.“There would be two or three people working on tops and bottoms, while someone else would align and glue the walls,” Harris says. “Then, a team of three to five would slide the corrugated material onto the PVC pipes. It took about an hour per cube.”
Harris’s initial reaction to the project was curiosity and excitement. “Oh, cool,” she says. “It’s kind of random, but sounds like fun. I wondered what they would look like and where they would go.”
Students also learned about the growing importance of protecting fish populations in Oklahoma lakes. “Fish populations in local lakes have become a concern,” Harris says. “Even though I’m in a wildlife class, I don’t usually think about fish or their populations.”
Junior Bailey Bumpas helped build the framework of the structures by assembling the PVC pipes and gluing the pieces together. “I helped push the pipe together to build the foundation of the cube, as well as glue the tubes together,” Bumpas says.
Beyond construction skills, students said the project strengthened teamwork and communication. “I got to improve teamwork and communication,” Bumpas says. “We also learned more about how this project could improve fish habitats.”
Senior Brylee Camp said the experience highlighted the importance of healthy aquatic ecosystems. “Fish habitats are significant for lakes and ponds since they offer shelter, food and breeding sites for fish,” Camp says. “They help maintain the health of fish populations.”
Camp added that working with wildlife professionals helped students better understand conservation work. “Working with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation gave me a better insight into the importance of protecting wildlife and how people can work together for the betterment of the environment,” she said. 
Sophomore Harper Slotterback helped assemble the habitats by priming and gluing the PVC pipes. She said the project required careful attention because each step depended on the previous one being completed correctly. “We divided up the work to keep a good pace,” Slotterback says. “One challenge was making sure everything was done correctly because the steps were dependent on each other.”
Senior Chloe Lamprecht said the project showed students that conservation work can be simple, yet effective. “Our fish habitats create more environments for fish and provide shelter and breeding grounds,” Lamprecht says. “This can increase aquatic biodiversity.”
Lamprecht also noted that the project demonstrated how conservation can involve entire communities. “I better understand that within wildlife conservation, community education is extremely important,” she says. “Spreading awareness of projects like this helps make them happen on a larger scale.”
For many students, finishing the project was especially rewarding. “Finishing up the last few cubes felt very rewarding,” Lamprecht says.
Students hope the new habitats will not only support fish populations, but also benefit the local community. “I hope the community and local fishermen understand the importance of protecting fish habitats so the environment remains healthy for everyone,” Camp says.
Through the project, Edmond FFA members gained hands-on conservation experience while contributing to the long-term health of Oklahoma’s fisheries. The habitats they constructed will soon provide critical structure and shelter for fish, helping ensure a strong ecosystem for the fish to thrive.
All photos for this article were provided by Mr. Cody Dean, one of Edmond’s FFA advisors.
