Hundreds of Ponds Restored in Iowa Bring Endangered Fish Back, Along with Hundreds of Species
Across Iowa, a tiny endangered fish has inspired an enormous conservation program that has restored hundreds of oxbow ponds, bringing back 57 fish species, 81 bird species, and many other animals.
AnimalsGNGV Editorial Team4 min readLast reviewed September 28, 2026
The Topeka shiner, a small endangered minnow, has sparked one of Iowa's most successful conservation efforts. The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service have restored hundreds of oxbow lakes.
Iowa was once covered with these wetlands, but agriculture eliminated most of them. "It really is a success story," said Karen Wilke of the Nature Conservancy. "Now we're not just doing it for Topeka shiner, but for water quality as well." The restored wetlands now host 57 fish species, 81 bird species, mussels, turtles, amphibians, beavers, and even river otters.
