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DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: blueReturn

DNR postponing trout stockings in Mason City and Sioux City

• 1/9/2024 3:33:00 PM
• View Count 2996

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is postponing the trout stockings scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 13 at Blue Pit, Mason City, and Bacon Creek Lake, Sioux City, due to unsafe ice conditions.

Iowa’s teal-only hunting season opens Sept. 1

• 8/29/2023 2:02:00 PM
• View Count 3765

Iowa’s 16-day teal only hunting season begins statewide Sept. 1, offering hunters an opportunity to enjoy Iowa’s wetlands and shallow lakes during the mild late summer weather.

Teachers recognized for outstanding fishing programs

• 7/18/2023 11:47:00 AM
• View Count 2801

Jason Ohrt, South Winneshiek Schools, and Shane Blake, Davis County Schools, are recipients of the 2023 Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

Drought conditions continue to impact water levels at Blue Lake in Lewis and Clark State Park

• 6/6/2023 2:19:00 PM
• View Count 2668

ONAWA – Blue Lake, located within Lewis and Clark State Park, continues to experience abnormally low water levels that may impact recreation opportunities. Launching boats is not recommended with the current low water levels.

Kirkwood Community College instructor recognized for outstanding fishing program

• 6/21/2022 12:58:00 PM
• View Count 3105

Ken Carroll, Parks and Natural Resources professor at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, is the 2022 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

Boaters in Western Iowa urged to use caution due to low water conditions

• 5/24/2022 3:27:00 PM
• View Count 1609

Water levels in oxbow lakes adjacent to the Missouri River are lower than normal going into the summer due to consecutive years of abnormally dry conditions in western Iowa and historic low flows in the Missouri River this past winter. Access to these lakes may be compromised.

Community trout pond stockings unannounced this winter and spring

• 1/25/2022 3:48:00 PM
• View Count 1824

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at three community trout ponds as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer.  

Mystery ailment impacting birds inching westward

• 6/29/2021 1:28:00 PM
• View Count 2868

Since May, state agencies, wildlife rehabilitators, and animal control operators in the Mid-Atlantic United States have received a sharp uptick in reports of sick or dead songbirds.

Community trout pond stockings unannounced this winter and spring

• 1/21/2021 9:18:00 AM
• View Count 6481

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at five community trout ponds as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer.

All 18 community trout ponds have been stocked this fall

• 11/3/2020 12:27:00 PM
• View Count 5509

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released between 1,000 to 2,000 rainbow trout at the last five community trout ponds as part of its cool weather trout program that brings trout to areas that cannot support them during the summer. 

Eagle Grove teacher recognized for outstanding fishing program

• 8/19/2020 7:20:00 AM
• View Count 2035

Amy Ascherl, physical education teacher at Robert Blue Middle School in Eagle Grove, is the 2020 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

DNR conservation officer and park ranger rescue duck hunters

• 11/29/2019 2:40:00 PM
• View Count 2848

MONONA COUNTY, Iowa - DNR Conservation Officer Gary Sisco and DNR Park Ranger Katie Hoeppner responded to a stranded boat with duck hunters on West Blue Lake, a marsh off of Blue Lake in Monona County in the evening hours of November 26.

Blue Pit trout stocking moved to Nov. 26

• 11/25/2019 10:56:00 AM
• View Count 2063

MASON CITY – The trout stocking at Blue Pit has been moved to Nov. 26 at 11:00 a.m. Previously scheduled for Nov. 27, the stocking was moved up a day due to the winter storm forecast for the area on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

DNR removes no-wake speed restriction at Blue Lake

• 9/10/2019 2:27:00 PM
• View Count 2444

MONONA COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has lifted the no-wake speed restriction, which equates to roughly 5 mph, for boating on Blue Lake at Lewis and Clark State Park.

Nodaway Valley teacher recognized for outstanding fishing program

• 8/13/2019 4:04:00 PM
• View Count 2123

Norma McCutchan, life science teacher at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield, is the 2019 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

Water level to drop at West Lake Park ahead of restoration

• 7/10/2019 11:22:00 AM
• View Count 3222

DAVENPORT – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will start lowering the water level at Lake of the Hills, Railroad Lake, Lambach Lake and Bluegrass Lake at West Lake Park on July 15 as part of a lake restoration project to improve water quality and recreational opportunities.

No wake speed in place at Blue Lake

• 7/6/2019 10:35:00 AM
• View Count 2721

Monona County, Iowa -- Boaters on Blue Lake, in Onawa, will be restricted to operating their boat at no wake speed, which equates to roughly 5 mph, while the lake level is above flood stage.

Spring fishing in full swing across Iowa

• 5/21/2019 1:05:00 PM
• View Count 3212

Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish fishing is a great time to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing. Catching panfish is easy and fun.

Iowa educators recognized for programs to get students outside, fishing

• 9/18/2018 4:12:00 PM
• View Count 2420

Faith Bruck with Logan-Magnolia High School is the 2018 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.In 2015, Logan-Magnolia Schools’ science teacher K.C. Kersten got a grant through Monsanto to develop a fishing pond and wetland area next to the school. The pond was stocked in the fall of 2016. In 2017, Bruck capitalized on the outdoor interests of her students and the newly stocked pond to create excitement about lifetime recreati...

DNR investigating manure spill in Clinton County

• 9/13/2018 12:22:00 PM
• View Count 2672

CLINTON – Wednesday, while doing a follow-up check on manure application just north of Clinton, the DNR found manure in a tributary of Silver Creek flowing into Silver Creek and about three miles to the Mississippi River.  

Blue bullfrogs spotted in Iowa

• 7/5/2017 2:14:00 PM
• View Count 36547

There are several genes that make a frog green or brown, and these genes result in various structures being created in the frog’s skin layers.

Spring fishing in full swing across Iowa

• 5/16/2017 12:19:00 PM
• View Count 4042

Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing. Catching panfish is easy and fun.

Local fishing club pays it forward

• 5/16/2017 12:15:00 PM
• View Count 3856

A central Iowa fishing club is the 2017 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

Spring panfish bite is heating up

• 5/16/2017 11:28:00 AM
• View Count 12512

Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Here's a few hotspots to try this spring.

West Okoboji: One of Only 3 Blue Water Lakes in the World?

• 7/12/2016 1:36:00 PM
• View Count 135799

For nearly a century, word has circulated that West Okoboji is one of only three blue water lakes in the world, the others being Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Louise in Canada.

Holstein Teacher Recognized for Outstanding Fishing Program

• 6/14/2016 1:18:00 PM
• View Count 4199

Justin Kinney, physical education and health instructor at Ridge View High School in Holstein, is the 2016 recipient of the Brass Bluegill award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fish Iowa! program.

DNR Program Helps Iowa Communities Monitor Drinking Water for Microcystin

• 5/26/2016 1:34:00 PM
• View Count 4795

DES MOINES – Iowa public drinking water supplies will have an opportunity to participate in a voluntary microcystin monitoring program.

Spring Fishing in Full Swing Across Iowa

• 5/17/2016 12:20:00 PM
• View Count 4191

Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing.

Zebra Mussels Found in Brushy Creek, Blue Pit

• 5/3/2016 1:13:00 PM
• View Count 5727

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is watching Brushy Creek Lake after water samples collected last fall contained juvenile zebra mussels.

Fishing the Thermocline for Better Summer Success

• 7/8/2015 6:57:00 AM
• View Count 22141

Back in early May, the air was warm and the water was churning in Iowa lakes. Crappies were in tight to shore, ready to drop their life-giving bundle of eggs, and bluegills were just a cast away waiting for their turn. It was spring, the spawn was on and panfish were taking just about anything hook, line and sinker. Anyone could catch fish.

Six Iowa Fish that Put Up the Biggest Fight

• 6/23/2015 11:27:00 AM
• View Count 36218

Looking for a challenge? Try catching one of these Iowa fish that are ready to battle.

Go Afloat with the Corps of Discovery: Lewis and Clark State Park

• 6/10/2015 9:51:00 AM
• View Count 10914

“Cast away! Cast away!” With that resounding command, bellowed stem to stern o’er land and water, the stunning 55-foot reproduction of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s Missouri-wending keelboat, Discovery, gingerly takes leave of the shores at which the explorers’ expedition arrived on Aug. 10, 1804.

7 Native, Easy to Care For Plants for Your Yard

• 5/12/2015 11:15:00 AM
• View Count 22374

Natives are resilient and pest resistant, take less watering and care, and will reward you with an April through October blooming season. With some 250 native prairie plants (translate prairie as “sun-loving”) to choose from, which plants are the must-haves for the average garden?

Build a Bluebird House [Tutorial]

• 3/13/2015 5:49:00 AM
• View Count 18113

Bluebirds should be arriving soon in Iowa, so now's a great time to clean out those bluebird boxes, or if you don't have one yet, to build your own!

What's the Best Iowa Fish for the Dinner Plate?

• 12/18/2014 10:53:00 AM
• View Count 13854

For many anglers, there’s nothing better than a shore lunch or a good old-fashioned fish fry. But as to which fish are the best to eat, as opposed to the most fun to catch, is another debate altogether. Here are some facts and recipes for three of Iowa’s favorite fish to grace the dining table.