Learning Along the Water's Edge

Photo credit: @bestof_coldlake 

For more than two decades, the LARA Fish Pond has been a valued part of our Fort Kent Research Farm and serves as  the primary site for our Riparian Area School Education Program. The pond provides students and visitors with opportunities to learn about fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, and the importance of healthy riparian areas.

The pond is stocked annually by the Alberta Government’s Forestry and Parks Hunting and Fishing Branch. In 2026, the pond was stocked on May 11 with 400 rainbow trout averaging 20.3 cm in length.

Over the years, the site has evolved into a welcoming outdoor learning space. In 2025, LARA enhanced the area by planting 100 trees and adding picnic tables, an outhouse, fencing, interpretive signs and a water crossing. These improvements create an accessible setting where school groups, families, and community members can connect with nature while exploring the role healthy aquatic and riparian ecosystems play in Alberta’s landscape.

Photo credit: @bestof_coldlake