Appeals Court Says Creek To Stay Free Of Trout

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A state appeals court says trout fishing will continue to be prohibited in Spring Creek in northeastern Oklahoma. <br/><br/>The creek is considered Oklahoma's last ``pristine''

Tuesday, December 19th 2006, 8:08 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A state appeals court says trout fishing will continue to be prohibited in Spring Creek in northeastern Oklahoma.

The creek is considered Oklahoma's last ``pristine'' Ozark stream and the lawsuit was brought by landowners who object to the Department of Wildlife Conservation allowing private fishermen to stock it with trout.

Trout is a foreign species to the stream and landowners fear it would crowd out fish native to the stream.

The court's ruling is not based on environmental concerns but says the department's process for changing rules to allow trout in the stream is ``inherently flawed.''

Spring Creek was first stocked with trout more than two years ago but officials believe the fish have died out.