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Pike Run Creek

 

Directions

Take highway 70 south of West Liberty for five miles. Then, go east for 2 miles on 170th street to get the Pike Run Wildlife area.

 

Locations

 

Boone River

 

Lock and Dam No. 14 Preserve

Pike Run Creek is a 12,000-acre watershed in southeast Iowa. It contains a tremendous amount of plant and animal diversity. This stream is very unique due to its extremely slow moving water. Duckweed, the smallest vascular plant in the world, is found floating here. Plant life grows to the edge of the creek; slow moving water flows through this vegetation.

Why You Should Visit
This area is a great habitat for unique species, such as the black-striped top minnow, pirate perch, the only fish in its genus and grass pickeral, a small form of pike (only about a foot long). Lots of sedge meadows surround this area, which are home to uncommon reptiles and amphibians, including the stink pot turtle. Pike Run Creek was the Conservancy’s first project in Iowa aimed at restoring freshwater areas around an agricultural landscape.

Location
Pike Run Creek is in the Lower Cedar Project area, five miles directly east of Nichols in Muscatine County.

Size
5 miles

Conditions
This area is very low and wet. The best place to see the creek is Muscatine County Park at the Pike Run Wildlife area. This area includes a suspension bridge over wetlands where you can see fish, water, wild rice and blue joint grass. This area is not recommended for hiking.

Preserve Visitation Guidelines.

What to See: Plants
While in the area, look for wild rice, blue joint grass, a variety of sedges, duckweed (the world’s smallest vascular plant), arrowhead and other classic wetland plants.

What to See: Animals
Around Pike Creek, stinkpot turtles, massasauga rattlesnakes and ornate box turtles can be spotted. Fish in the area include: black striped top minnow, pirate perch, the only fish in its genus and grass pickeral, a small form of pike (only about a foot long).

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Fish experts recognize this as very unique and unusual habitat because the stream is slow moving, spring fed and constant flowing.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy and the Muscatine Soil and Water Conservation District have been working with landowners on conservation programs, including conservation tillage, nutrient and animal waste management systems, stream buffers, grazing systems, wetlands restoration, innovative field trials with the Iowa Soybean Association and septic system improvements. The goal is to reduce sediment and nutrients entering the stream.