We found lots and lots of Rusty Crayfish (dominant species),
bluntnose/fathead minnows (some adults with breeding tubercles and
YOY),
blackstripe minnows (adults and YOY),
a silvery shiner with deeply forked tail (guess: golden shiner)
and what could have been YOY creek chubs.
The creek was very cloudy and had deep pockets of mud on either
side that released Hydrogen Sulphide gas when disturbed. There was
debris/riprap on the edges of the stream that made it difficult
to collect. We did not see different habitats where we were.
Also, the hydrogen sulphide pockets deterred us from sampling the
edges.
Most of the fish we collected was in the central part of the stream
in about four foot deep channel (gravel bottom, some current).
Given that we had a 8ft seine in a 30+ foot wide stream, I am
pretty sure that many fish just laughed and swam around us.
There were some inverts in the stream (dragonfly larvae, asian
clams and native mussels including Thumbnail clams). No emergent
aquatic growth or submersed plants. Some duckweed floating on
the surface along with some small oil slicks.
We setup a display-in-the "Meet the Creek" event and explained
the fish we found to several kids and adults. We made it a point
to show them the rusty crayfish (highlighting the rust spots) and
that it was an exotic invasive and bad for the environment. All
in all, about 50 people stopped by. A couple of the people had
native fish in ponds or tanks and they chatted a bit about their
fish. One had a swamp ecosystem setup with plants, amphibians,
reptiles and fish in a 55G-in-home. Several kids got to see
crayfish up close for the first time and were duly impressed.
The older kids got to name the fish and the younger ones got
to count them.
Almost all of the people were surprised to see that fish actually
lived in that creek.
Photos should be appearing soon-in-
Village of Brookfield site http://www.villageofbrookfield.com
and
Riverside/Brookfield "Landmark" newspaper http://www.rblandmark.com
The photos we took will be uploaded soon. All fish, mussel shells
were returned to the creek after the event. The rusty crayfish
were, um, served to the raccoons.
Sajjad
--- Christopher Gutmann <cgutmann-in-dupageforest.com> wrote:
> Sajjad,
>
> You will be downstream from where I work (Fullersburg Woods) so it's
> possible that any of the species found here could wind up downstream
> towards Brookfield. I've never collected down there so (of course)
> the occurrence of some of these species depends on the types of
> habitat you encounter. With that being said, here's a list of the
> potentials:
> Iowa darter (careful handling - as you know, it's state-threatened)
> green sunfish
> bluegill
> orange-spotted sunfish
> largemouth bass
> smallmouth bass
> yellow bullhead
> blackstripe topminnow
> bluntnose minnows
> creek chub
> common carp
> goldfish (been established for almost 40 yrs in Salt Creek)
> walleye
> crappie
> northern pike (pike, crappie, and walleye have been stocked in
> adjacent lakes by Cook Co. and have subsequently made their way into
> the creek - we've found these three spp. by the Graue Mill dam)
>
> I would be interested to hear what you catch down that way. If you
> could forward me a list of what you catch, I would appreciate it.
>
> Just to give you a heads-up: there was a massive fish kill in Salt
> Creek last week (natural causes). So, if you don't encounter much or
> if you see dead fish, that could be why.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Christopher Gutmann
> Naturalist, Fullersburg Woods
> Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
> 3609 Spring Rd., Oak Brook IL, 60523
> 630-850-8118 fax: 630-850-7701
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sajjad Lateef [sajjadlateef-in-yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 7:01 AM
> To: Scott Davis; COszak-in-aol.com; Christopher Gutmann
> Subject: Re: June 19 Meet the Creek (Salt Creek)
>
>
> Chris,
>
> NANFA member Scott Davis and I have been invited to setup a
> display-in-the 'Meet the Creek' event (organized by Salt Creek
> Watershed network in Brookfield, IL) next Sunday, June 19.
>
> We were planning on arriving a bit early and then try siening
> up some fish from the creek.
>
> Do you have any idea of the fish we can expect to find in
> the section of the creek in/around Brookfield? Even a quick
> list of the most common species would be great.
>
> Thanks
> Sajjad
> NANFA
>
> --- Scott Davis <unclescott-in-prodigy.net> wrote:
>
> > Is there a field study available on salt creek? It
> > might be useful to prepare a check list so we have a
> > better idea of what we are looking for. Whar area
> > libraries would be good bets to have such a study in
> > their holding?
> >
> > Thanks and all the best!
> > Scott
> >
> > --- Sajjad Lateef <sajjadlateef-in-yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Chris,
> > >
> > > I wanted to acknowledge that I have recieved your
> > > email. Also,
> > > being cc'ed on this message is Scott Davis (the
> > > other NANFA member
> > > who was-in-the Springbrook NANFA table).
> > >
> > > We shall do our best to setup a decent display for
> > > the Saltcreek
> > > event. We have equipment to sample deeper creeks.
> > > However, I will
> > > bring the fish from Springbrook creek, just in case
> > > we don't get
> > > any fish.
> > >
> > > Thank you for inviting NANFA to participate.
> > >
> > > Sajjad Lateef
> > >
> > > --- COszak-in-aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > > Sajjad,
> > > >
> > > > Thank you for agreeing to show a NANFA exhibit at
> > > the 'Meet the
> > > > Creek' in
> > > > Brookfield on Sunday, June 19 from 11 am - 2 pm.
> > > I really enjoyed
> > > > the exhibit
> > > > you had-in-Springbrook Nature Center in Itasca
> > > yesterday. In
> > > > Brookfield there
> > > > may not be the same diversity of fish as there was
> > > in Itasca. The
> > > > creek is
> > > > deeper and the streambanks are steeper. Whatever
> > > kind of exhibit you
> > > > wish to
> > > > have will be fine with us.
> > > >
> > > > 'Meet the Creek' will be held in the Brookfield
> > > Kiwanis Park. It is
> > > > located
> > > > between Washington St and the Metra train station
> > > on the east side of
> > > > the Salt
> > > > Creek. Washington runs east and west. It is
> > > south of 31st Street
> > > > (the main
> > > > entrance to the zoo is on 31st) and north of
> > > Ogden Ave. Washington
> > > > changes
> > > > name to Ridgewood near 1st Ave. and the south
> > > entrance to the zoo is
> > > > just west
> > > > of 1st Ave. From Washington turn south on Arden
> > > (on the east side of
> > > > the
> > > > park) and continue to the road along the train
> > > tracks. Use the
> > > > parking lot across
> > > > from the Metra station. You can see the pavilion
> > > from the lot.
> > > > We'll have
> > > > tables set up in there. Electricity will be
> > > available, let me know
> > > > if you'll
> > > > need it.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks again for participating in 'Meet the
> > > Creek'.
> > > >
> > > > Chris Oszak
> > > > Salt Creek Watershed Network
> > > > www.saltcreekwatershed.org
> > > > (630)832-4189
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Sajjad Lateef e-mail: sajjadlateef AT yahoo DOT com
> > > Chicago
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Sajjad Lateef e-mail: sajjadlateef AT yahoo DOT com
> Chicago
>
>
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-- Sajjad Lateef e-mail: sajjadlateef AT yahoo DOT com Chicago /----------------------------------------------------------------------- / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes / Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA, / visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are / consistent with the guidelines as per / http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get / help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at / http://www.nanfa.org/email.shtml