Problem Fish Returns to Lake Wapello

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Aug 4, 2009 at 11:23 AM CST

Story Updated: Aug 4, 2009 at 5:59 PM CST

DRAKESVILLE (AP) - Officials say there's a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of whoever reintroduced a troublesome fish species to a southern Iowa lake.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday said investigators had ruled out all natural ways that the gizzard shad fish could have infiltrated Lake Wapello near Drakesville. That means someone broke the law by intentionally stocking the lake.

Officials in April completed a $400,000 renovation, dam repair and watershed improvement project at Lake Wapello. Biologist Mark Flammang says the premature reintroduction of the shad means some of that work will have to be undone.

The natural resources department says fishing at Lake Wapello contributes $700,000 per year to the local economy.

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