Manure pollution suspected in Rockwell City fish kill

[nosmokes]

Manure pollution suspected in Rockwell City fish kill
REGISTER STAFF REPORTS


August 21, 2006


A fish kill on Lake Creek east of Rockwell City was being investigated Sunday afternoon by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Cause of the fish kill is still under investigation, but the water had a manure odor and high ammonia levels were being detected in the stream.

The fish kill initially affected mostly smaller fish species including minnows, suckers and chubs, but further downstream, larger fish such as carp were being killed.

It is not anticipated that a final count of dead fish could be completed on Sunday because the fish were continuing to die downstream as the investigation was being conducted. Biologists believe the fish kill will likely be more than 1,000 fish.

The fish kill was reported by a local fisherman.