Edison High School’s Innovation Lab now Rescuing Endangered Trout

The following is a press release from the Huntington Beach Union High School District and does not reflect editorial work done by Spotlight Schools.

Edison High School (EHS) in the Huntington Beach Union High School District celebrated the grand opening of a new addition to the Innovation Lab, where students will rescue and house endangered southern steelhead trout.

The EHS Innovation Lab is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to save state and federally endangered southern steelhead trout. With funding from the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains through a grant from CDFW, a new state-of-the-art facility is now available on campus at EHS to hold rescued steelhead trout.

The new system will be able to support up to 650 trout rescued from creeks impacted by drought, wildfire, and debris flows. This effort provides a much needed temporary holding facility dedicated to providing these fish a refuge until they can be returned to the wild.

Southern steelhead trout populations have been declining for many years, and the recent wildfires and droughts have further reduced the upper watershed populations that are most at risk. Protecting the genetic biodiversity found in each individual watershed is key to allowing the populations to recover. Rescues can prevent the of this biodiversity and provide the opportunity for conservation translocations if needed, moving fish into historically suitable habitats that have lost their fish. 

This allows the trout to remain wild and recover so that when their original habitat is once again available, they can be returned. In the meantime, it provides more fish in more places, a redundancy supported by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Recovery Plan (2012) and CDFW. Of the 52 priority recovery watersheds listed in the NMFS recovery plan for the southern California steelhead Distinct Population Segment, only 8 watersheds as of 2024 contain a remnant population, and most of those are above total Barriers.

What was once an auto shop at Edison High School has been transformed into the Edison Innovation Lab, an on-campus facility that combines aquaculture, aquaponics, and hydroponics with a fully equipped aquarium. In return, students are provided with real-world, hands-on experiences in marine aquarium science.

The Edison Innovation Lab serves as a unique educational hub where students engage in “hands-on, minds-on” learning, exploring the science and technology behind sustainable aquatic systems. Through this innovative facility, students not only study marine life and water chemistry but also practice the principles of conservation, preservation, and environmental Restoration.

In partnership with multiple private industry and governmental agencies, as well as the Orange Coast College (OCC) Marine Sciences Department, Edison High School’s aquarium and aquaculture programs offer students access to explore and become enriched in marine science and aquaculture concepts, while fostering professional partnerships with outside organizations and agencies that specialize in ocean and aquatic ecosystem research.

The Edison High School Marine Aquarium Science and Aquaculture/Aquaponics Program is a Career Technical Education (CTE) program that enhances the 12 elements of CTE and incorporates the Next Generation of Science Standards into the curriculum. Through college dual enrollment with the OCC Marine Sciences Department, students earn college credit while developing advanced technical and scientific skills that can lead to future careers in marine biology, aquaculture, and environmental science.

EHS students are learning essential aquarium and marine science concepts through real, applied work and are gaining experience that connects classroom learning to the real world, while contributing to the conservation and sustainability of marine ecosystems.

The Edison Innovation Lab serves as a model for experiential STEM education, bridging the gap between high school and higher education, and inspiring the next generation of marine scientists and environmental stewards.

Do you want to submit a press release to Spotlight Schools? Email hello@spotlightschools.com.