DES MOINES – Three fish kills in Iowa waterways have been investigated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources after tens of thousands of fish were killed due to various contaminants that entered streams in three Iowa counties.
The DNR has traced the source of a fish kill at the Buck Creek County Park northeast of Garnavillo to Adams Dairy, a small dairy operation in Clayton county. Totals are now available on two other recent fish kills.
A fish kill in Buck Creek discovered Sept. 3 has been traced to Adams Dairy, operated by T. J. and Vicky Kolker of Garnavillo.
Manure from the dairy was applied too close to a waterway, according to DNR inspectors. Runoff from the manure entered Buck Creek and flowed five miles through the county park where DNR discovered the fish kill Sept.3 while stocking trout.
DNR fisheries biologists report that 36,350 fish were killed, mostly minnows, shiners, chubs and dace (15,975). The runoff killed one brook trout, 91 rainbow trout and 1,172 brown trout. The fish killed are valued at $26,023.35 with investigation costs of $1,147.51.
The DNR will pursue enforcement actions and fish restitution of $27,170.86.
Initially reported as affecting five, then 12 miles of Mill Creek in O’Brien county, a manure discharge from Summit Dairy killed fish for 28 miles of stream. The DNR found elevated levels of ammonia and low levels of dissolved oxygen, along with 865,940 dead fish along the creek beginning west of Primghar in O’Brien County.
Most of the fish were minnows, shiners, dace and chubs. However, DNR fisheries found 4,510 dead catfish, 2,479 sunfish, 459 largemouth bass and 45 smallmouth bass. The fish restitution total is $158,551.63, with investigation costs of $1,945.73 for a total of $160,497.36.
The DNR will take enforcement action and pursue compensation for the fish.
In a third investigation along Catfish Creek in Dubuque County over the Labor Day weekend, DNR fisheries found dead fish along at least 2.2 miles of stream above the confluence with the South Fork of Catfish Creek on Sept. 1.
Fisheries completed the dead fish count Sept. 2, identifying bluegill, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, stonecat, yellow perch and white sucker for a total of 455 dead fish. Staff could not identify small fish due to advanced decay. Preliminary estimates place the fish value at $2,705.
Again, investigators were not able to verify the pollutant source because the fish had been dead for several days before DNR was notified. However, DNR investigators think it was likely related to storm water runoff.
Anyone finding dead fish should call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-281-8694 as soon as possible so that DNR can help identify and stop the source of the pollutant.
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