Northern and Interior Range
The distribution includes Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Hudson Bay and Mississippi-basin waters across parts of Canada and the United States. Its name does not mean it occurs only in Iowa. Drainage and locality help place a record within this much broader distribution.
Vegetated Habitat
Fish occupy vegetated lakes and pools in headwaters, creeks and small rivers. Quiet plant cover is central to the description. This differs from an assumption that all darters live exclusively in fast exposed riffles, even when both habitats occur in the same watershed.
Eggs and Length
The species produces adhesive eggs that are not guarded by a parent. The maximum reference is 7.2 centimeters total length. A close side photograph with body pattern and fins visible provides better identification information than relying on small size and a location among plants.
Darters Also Use Quiet Plants
Iowa Darter illustrates why the habitat of one darter should not be copied to the entire group. Record vegetation and current separately.
All Lakes With Iowa Darter
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Iowa Darter records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
Showing 1–24 of 1,249 lakes · Page 1 of 53
- Acorn Lake Becker, MN
- Acorn Lake Becker, MN
- Adney Lake Crow Wing, MN
- Aitkin Lake Aitkin, MN
- Albert Lea Lake Freeborn, MN
- Alger Lake Lake, MN
- Amelia Lake Pope, MN
- Andrew Lake Kandiyohi, MN
- Andrusia Lake Beltrami, MN
- Annie Battle Lake Otter Tail, MN
- Armstrong Lake St. Louis, MN
- Arrowhead Lake Crow Wing, MN
- Artichoke Lake Big Stone, MN
- Au Sable Lake Ogemaw, MI
- August Lake Lake, MN
- Avery Lake Montmorency, MI
- Baby Lake Cass, MN
- Bad Axe Lake Hubbard, MN
- Bad Medicine Lake Becker, MN
- Badger Lake Polk, MN
- Badger Lake Polk, MN
- Bald Eagle Lake Ramsey, MN
- Ball Bluff Lake Aitkin, MN
- Ball Club Lake Itasca, MN