DNR Restricts Water Use to Protect Central Minnesota Trout Stream

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is restricting water use from a central Minnesota creek.

The DNR says authorized water use in the Little Rock Creek Area is negatively impacting the stream’s ecosystem, violating sustainability standards. A water use conflict exists due to competing demands for agricultural irrigation and natural resources. The demands exceed the available water supply.

Officials say this necessitates establishing a sustainable diversion limit to protect the stream’s ecosystem. The limit will be set at 15% of the August median base flow, which is roughly 1.6 cubic feet per second when averaged across the three stations.

Consideration of new irrigation permits and increases in authorized volumes for third-priority water use within the zone will be withheld until a water allocation plan is approved.

The 21.7 mile segment of Little Rock Creek and its 4.7 mile tributary, Bunker Hill Creek, are designated trout streams and Special Management Waters. They contain more than two dozen fish species. The DNR stocks them with brook trout and, when available, brown trout.

The DNR and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency periodically conduct trout population assessments, fish community assessments, and stream temperature monitoring.

Two years ago, a dam on Little Rock Creek was deemed obsolete and removed. One reason for its removal was that the water in the creek was too warm to sustain fish and other aquatic life.

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