House Resolution 115 - Introduced HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 115 BY KELLEY , MEYER , WOLFE , GAINES , and BROWN-POWERS A Resolution urging designation of the Iowa brook trout 1 as the official state fish for the State of Iowa. 2 WHEREAS, the Iowa brook trout (salvelinus 3 fontinalis) is a fish native to Iowa that is found 4 almost exclusively in the northeastern portion of the 5 state in select spring-fed streams; and 6 WHEREAS, brook trout are the only trout species 7 native to Iowa; and 8 WHEREAS, the Iowa brook trout is readily 9 recognizable and distinguishable from other trout by 10 two main characteristics: vivid white lines on the 11 front or leading edge of the lower fins, and light 12 wormy streaks or mottling called vermiculations on 13 the darker background of the trout’s top portion or 14 back; and 15 WHEREAS, a male Iowa brook trout at spawning time 16 is among the most beautiful of all fish with deep 17 red-yellow-crimson coloration along the belly and 18 numerous red and pale yellow spots sometimes surrounded 19 by a blue-colored circle on its sides; and 20 WHEREAS, the Iowa brook trout’s beautiful coloration 21 and scarcity add immeasurably to its aesthetic 22 value; and 23 WHEREAS, the normal length of an Iowa brook trout 24 during the third year of life is 10 to 13 inches; and 25 WHEREAS, an Iowa brook trout that weighs over one 26 pound is considered a trophy; and 27 WHEREAS, a female Iowa brook trout matures at about 28 -1- LSB 6073YH (3) 86 av/rj 1/ 2
H.R. 115 two years of age while most males mature during the 1 first year of life; and 2 WHEREAS, life expectancy of the Iowa brook trout is 3 seldom longer than three years; and 4 WHEREAS, natural reproduction of the Iowa brook 5 trout is presently limited to only a few streams in the 6 state; and 7 WHEREAS, in order to survive, the Iowa brook 8 trout must have the coldest and cleanest of stream 9 conditions; and 10 WHEREAS, continual pollution, heavy siltation, or 11 other water quality degradation of Iowa’s streams will 12 extirpate the species forever; and 13 WHEREAS, disappearance of the Iowa brook trout will 14 foretell the disappearance of the last of our state’s 15 purest coldwater streams; and 16 WHEREAS, the Iowa brook trout is the perfect symbol 17 of our state’s ongoing efforts to save and reestablish 18 healthy waters; NOW THEREFORE, 19 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 20 That the House of Representatives supports efforts to 21 preserve and to reestablish healthy waters and to raise 22 awareness of all aquatic species in the state by urging 23 that the Iowa brook trout be designated as the official 24 state fish for the State of Iowa. 25 -2- LSB 6073YH (3) 86 av/rj 2/ 2