Bigalk (BEE’-ALK) Creek in Howard County has just been named the third coldwater creek in Iowa with documented, “natural” reproduction of rainbowtrout. The Department of Natural Resources stocks the creek with rainbowtrout weekly, but Kevin Baskins of the D-N-R says smaller trout indicatenatural reproduction.Not only are young trout found in Bigalk Creek, but the trout are considered”naturalized” — that means they have acquired natural colors and arefeeding on a natural diet.Baskins says Bigalk Creek has been the focus of an intense water qualityimprovement project in which nearby property owners install fencing to reducethe number of cattle with direct contact to the water. Baskins says the D-N-R is extremely excited about this development asdiscovering natural repoduction is the best success they could ask for.
Iowa's Radio News Network
