Protecting the Waters We Fish: Water Quality from an Angler's Perspective

Water is a necessity of life. Not just human life, but the lives of fish, macroinvertebrates, and other wildlife. As anglers, we see this every time we go to lakes, rivers, or streams. In northeast Iowa, the trout streams are delicate ecosystems that are susceptible to degradation of water quality and reductions in water quantity. The Driftless Area contains nearly all of Iowa’s Outstanding Resource Waters, yet the region is still impacted by excess nutrients, sediments, and E. coli. High levels of nitrates in streams designated as Outstanding Waters like Bloody Run Creek are cause for concern, and we see extremely high E. coli levels in the Yellow River, Iowa’s longest designated trout stream.

What does this mean to anglers?

Excess nutrients and manure can cause fish kills, or water that you shouldn’t wade in due to the health risks. There are more subtle impacts like reduced reproductive success in trout. Many pollutants enter our water bound to sediment. High sedimentation in our streams can smother trout eggs by the tens of thousands. Trout eggs are porous and need to breathe. Sediment clogs them up, leading to death. This siltation also covers the rock in the stream bed, which can smother out macroinvertebrates. These bugs are the main source of calories for trout and other fish in our streams. Sediment in the stream can also lead to warmer water which increases fish mortality. Fewer fish mean less satisfied anglers, which leads to anglers going somewhere else to fish, and a negative impact on local economies and quality of life for residents.

Siltation in our streams can trigger economic impacts? Yes, it can. But there are some great organizations working to improve our streams.

Trout Unlimited (TU) formed the Driftless Area Restoration Effort (DARE) in the early 2000s after TU chapters and partners banded together with a desire to restore more streams through collaboration. The effort was expanded through collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to become the Driftless Area Restoration Effort Fish Habitat Partnership. Since its inception, TU DARE has helped restore over 400 miles of trout streams in the Driftless Region. We work with local landowners, farmers, state and federal agencies, as well as other conservation-focused partners to implement conservation practices on the landscape and conduct stream restoration projects. The main goals of these projects are to reduce sedimentation in streams by reshaping stream banks, connecting them back to their floodplains, and increasing in-stream habitat. To do this work, we have state and federal programs that provide funding, as well as private dollars from angler groups, conservation organizations, and other partners. Local contractors are hired to build the project, keeping the money local.

Stream restoration alone won’t fix the water quality issue. Outreach and education to local community members, landowners, and farmers are also high priorities for TU staff and volunteers. We sponsor and host field days, stream walks, and other events to spread the word about programs available to assist farmers with conservation practices on their land. Many farmers are already doing great things in the Driftless Region. This area has the highest rate of cover crop implementation in the state as well as the highest crop diversity. These practices, along with other regenerative farming practices like no-till and incorporating livestock, can help smaller farming operations prosper while improving soil health and water quality.  TU engages directly with producers to understand their operations and find opportunities for improvement that work for them.

To learn more about the work Trout Unlimited does in the Driftless Region, follow us on Facebook, or check out our website.

Cameron Aker is the Engagement Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, covering the Driftless Region of Iowa. He works with farmers, landowners, and partners to restore streams, increase habitat, and help farmers improve the coldwater resources on their lands. Prior to coming to TU in 2024, Cameron spent 17 years in the ag industry, primarily working in crop research and agronomy. He and his wife live outside of Decorah where they enjoy gardening and spending time outdoors.