About the Skunk River

The South Skunk River has its source in Hamilton County Iowa, is subsequently joined by the North Skunk River, and enters the Mississippi River downstream of Burlington, Iowa. The South Skunk River traverses Story County in central Iowa from north to south. This river corridor is one of the very few relatively undisturbed natural areas remaining in Story County (approximately 92% of the land in Story County is either cropland or urban, with much of the rest being pasture land). Some portions of the river corridor (the "Skunk River Greenbelt"; approximately 620 acres) are publicly owned.

The Skunk River is home to numerous species of animals and plants. Whitetail deer, raccoons, opossums, mink and beaver are common mammalian visitors. Otters have recently been reintroduced to the Skunk River. Common bird species include great blue herons, belted kingfishers, great horned owls, turkey vultures, and sand pipers. Insect species that frequent the river include tiger beetles, black damselflies, water striders, and tiger swallowtail butterflies. Snapping turtles, leopard frogs, and the occasional garter snake can be found in the river corridor. Aquatic invertebrates include crawfish, freshwater sponges, bryozoans, flatworms and several species of freshwater mussels including plain pocketbooks and heelsplitters. Fish species include the native creek chubs, channel catfish, green sunfish, smallmouth bass, and various minnow species, as well as introduced species. The riverine forests that border the Skunk are dominated by silver maple, elm, and boxelder, with plenty of woodland stinging nettle at ground level. Rare plant species found in the river corridor include: dwarf bulrush, cardinal flower, buttonbush, and obedient plant.