GUTHRIE CENTER – Dead fish have been discovered downstream from where two anhydrous ammonia tanks and a tractor fell into Brushy Creek north of Guthrie Center on Friday.
The tractor was pulling a disc and the two tanks when an old wooden bridge it was crossing collapsed and the equipment fell into Brushy Creek. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene late Friday evening and determined that the valves of the tanks had been shut off and that there was no fuel leaking from the tractor, but that there had been some ammonia reach the water.
Some dead fish and elevated ammonia levels were found as far downstream as Monteith, approximately five miles southeast of Guthrie Center.
Further observation downstream on the South Raccoon River on Saturday morning did not find any dead fish or elevated ammonia levels.
The tractor, disc, and anhydrous tanks are owned and operated by Agriland FS. The company has been advised to have booms present while the equipment is being recovered in case petroleum begins leaking from the tractor during the removal activities. Booms placed in the water will prevent leakage from moving any further downstream.
Des Moines Water Works was immediately advised of the spill.
Environmental specialists from the DNR were still on the scene Saturday.
[poll random]
As I understand this, it was on private property and the farmers old wooded bridge collapsed.Why is this company responsible? should that not fall on the property owner? For the DNR to make the company carry water Damns in each of their trucks is over the top.