Serious Stream Pollution..can things be done?

[Deerslayer_37]

A friend and i were out shed hunting and walking around at our 640 acres outside of Marquette, Iowa and i noticed the section of Dousman Creek we own was really dirty brown. Just a really gross brown color. It also had an odor but i couldnt quite think of what the odor was. as were walking along the creek, it hit me. It smelled like a farm. Like cow manure. DUH! The neighbors that were above the stream spread manure on the frozen fields and when it rained and the snow melted it all ran off into the stream. This isn't just minor, i mean the water is dark brown and smells like cow manure. It's not as bad farther downstream, but near the closer to the neighbors you got, it became worse. I really hate to think what this is going to do to the already low brown trout populations(they've started to build up their numbers.). Is there anything that can be done to report this pollution to the DNR? i guess i mean will they do anything about it? It just makes me mad to see these farmers pollute a normally crystal clear trout stream.

thanks,
slayer

 

[muddy]

I've actually done some backpack electroshocking on Dousman Creek, very nice areas up there. Don't quote me but I'd bet that since it was spread manure on a field that there's not much that can really be done. Now, if it was a cow lot that was just draining into the creek then there's something could be done. My suggestion is contact...

Dr. Mary Skopec,
Research Geologist & Section Supervisor
mskopec@igsb.uiowa.edu
(319) 335-1579

If she can't help you I know that she can direct you to the person who can.