SUPERIOR – At least 605 fish were killed about four miles northwest of Estherville, according to numbers released today by Iowa DNR.
The fish were all minnow size with most being brook stickleback.
“Undoubtedly we missed many fish in the count because the area was pretty inaccessible and the water was covered with duckweed making counts very difficult,” said Mike Hawkins, fisheries biologist. “Also, since the kill occurred Tuesday fish were already deteriorating and predators likely removed some too.”
DNR environmental and fisheries staff began investigating the fish kill on Wednesday, finding dead fish, crawdads and dragonfly larvae.
Environmental staff indicate aerial spraying in an adjacent field is the most likely cause, but are waiting on laboratory reports to confirm the pollutant and responsible party.
The DNR will continue to investigate and take appropriate enforcement action.
NIT reported that last week, two other fish kills were reported in Iowa, with the DNR again speculating they were caused by a crop duster.
Big Murderous AG strikes again. When oh when can we get rid of Branstad? This is getting old.
The crop duster needs to know there is a small creek down there before he or she starts spraying. I don’t think a professional cropduster makes this mistake on purpose.
Fine the hell out of the responsible parties – our agriculture is killing the human race a little at a time with all these poisons they are using to increase production – we already know it has destroyed our wildlife by poisoning their habitat –whats left of the habitat – as greedy corporate farms have removed most habitat right up to the creek beds and plowing up the wetlands – money money money – well I hope they fine you buggers a couple of hundred thousand for poisioning our environment. PS – you know you also contaminated our drinking water while doing this — aholes.
And the government rewards rape with farmers welfare.
This I agree with you on. Farmers should not be allowed to destroy our land and water for their profit. Take away their welfare and make them earn what they get.