The Mad River gained 84 new inhabitants Tuesday afternoon when Benjamin Logan High School environmental science pupils released rainbow trout at Lions Park in West Liberty that the students had raised since January in their classroom. Their instructor Spencer Reames said it was through the students’ diligent efforts to monitor water quality and also change the water in the tanks two to three times a week that this class had the most successful Trout in the Classroom effort yet — with the 84 rainbow trout surviving out of 100 eggs received earlier this year. “It’s because of their work that we had such a high success rate this year,” he said, noting that the school has learned a lot through hosting the program since 2010, including the importance of using a combination of direct well water or stream water for the fish in the classroom, instead of soft water. Don Dean, retired Ohio State University professor and Trout Unlimited member, delivered the eggs to the school and also stopped out to assist with the release Tuesday. He said the Ohio Madmen Chapter of Trout Unlimited sponsors this program at 13 area schools and the trout eggs are received through the London Hatchery. “We’re very grateful to Doug Sweet, supervisor of London Hatchery, and Kevin Kayle head of hatcheries in the state, for making this such a quality program for students.” (EXAMINER PHOTO | MANDY LOEHR)