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July 20, 2023 |  By: Jeremy Werner

20,000 dead shovelnose sturgeon discovered in Iowa

shovelnose-sturgeon

A fish kill has been reported on the lower Des Moines River in Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigated the incident and discovered approximately 20,000 dead shovelnose sturgeon over a 60-mile stretch from Ottumwa to Farmington. Water samples and tests were conducted to determine the cause of the fish kill, with results indicating that high water temperatures combined with low flows were the primary factors. Shovelnose sturgeon were the only species affected, and their population will take years to recover.

If you observe dead or distressed fish, please report it to the DNR's 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 to help identify and address such incidents promptly.