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Aquatic Invasive Species

Protect Our Waters from Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are animals and plants that are not native to Iowa. When introduced into Iowa waters, they can displace native plants and animals, damage water resources and interfere with water-based recreation, including fishing.

These species can be introduced and spread through a variety of activities including boating, fishing, aquarium ownership, and water gardening.

A partial list of Iowa waters with aquatic invasive species is available below. Find a complete list online at www.iowadnr.gov/ais. If you find a possible aquatic invasive species, please report it to [email protected].

Invasive species threatening Iowa:

Fish: Bighead Carp,* Black Carp,* Round Goby,* Rudd,* Ruffe,* Silver Carp,* Snakehead,* White Perch*

Invertebrate: Fishhook Waterflea,* Marbled Crayfish, New Zealand Mudsnail,* Quagga Mussel,* Red Swamp Crayfish, Rusty Crayfish,* Spiny Waterflea,* Zebra Mussel*

Plant: Brittle Naiad (Waternymph),* Brazilian Waterweed, Curlyleaf Pondweed,* Eurasian Watermilfoil,* Flowering Rush,* Hydrilla,* Parrot Feather, Purple Loosestrife,* Saltcedar,* Starry Stonewort, Water Hyacinth, Water Lettuce, Water Spinach,* Yellow Floating-Heart

*Prohibited in Iowa

Aquatic Invasive Species Regulations

You cannot possess, introduce, buy, sell or transport aquatic invasive species in Iowa except when a species is being removed from watercraft and equipment at a water access, is caught and immediately killed or returned to the water from which it came, or is being transported in a sealed container for identification purposes.

Do your part to stop aquatic hitchhikers. How-to guide on properly cleaning, draining, and drying you watercraft when removing from the water.

Lake Name

Bighead Carp

Brittle Naiad

Curlyleaf Pondweed

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Rusty Crawfish

Silver Carp

Zebra Mussel

Big Creek Lake (Polk)

X

X

X

Big Sioux River (Woodbury)

X

Black Hawk Lake (Sac)

X

X

Brushy Creek Lake (Webster)

X

X

X

Carter Lake (Pottawattamie)

X

X

Cedar River

X

X

X

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo)

X

X

X

Crystal Lake (Hancock)

X

X

X

Des Moines River

X

X

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

X

X

X

Easter Lake (Polk)

X

X

George Wyth Lake (Black Hawk)

X

X

Grundy County Lake (Grundy)

X

X

X

Iowa River

X

X

Lake Cornelia (Wright)

X

X

Lake Macbride (Johnson)

X

X

Lake Manawa (Pottawattamie)

X

Lake Miami (Monroe)

X

Lake Wapello (Davis)

X

Little Sioux River

X

X

X

Lost Grove Lake (Scott)

X

X

Lost Island Lake (Palo Alto)

X

X

Maquoketa River

X

Mississippi River

X

X

X

X

X

Missouri River

X

X

X

Moorehead Park Pond (Ida)

X

Pleasant Creek Lake (Linn)

X

X

Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby)

X

X

Red Haw Lake (Lucas)

X

Skunk River

X

X

Storm Lake (Buena Vista)

X

X

Three Mile Lake (Union)

X

Twelve Mile Creek Lake (Union)

X

Union Grove Lake (Tama)

X

Upper Gar Lake

X

X

X

Wapsipinicon River

X

X

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

X

X

X

X

X

X

Willow Lake (Harrison)

X

X
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