Hot Weather Suspends Trout Stocking at Five Streams

[Rick]

DECORAH IA – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has temporarily suspended its regular trout stocking on five streams due to stream temperatures ranging between 70 degrees and the low 80s.

The DNR is temporarily not stocking trout at Bohemian Creek, in Winneshiek County, Turtle Creek and Spring Creek, in Mitchell County, Twin Bridges, in Delaware County, and Upper Swiss Valley, in Dubuque County. Streams will be evaluated weekly to determine if the suspension will be lifted.

“We need to have either the weather cool off or get some precipitation to increase stream flows which should help stream temperatures to decrease,” said Brian Malaise, hatchery manager at the Decorah trout hatchery.

The fish coming from the trout hatcheries are in 50 to 56 degree water.

“The trout stocked earlier in the year in those streams have become acclimated to the warmer water and can find springs with cooler temperatures, but trout being taken from 50 degree water at the hatchery cannot be stocked in 70 to 80 degree water without some mortality,” Malaise said.