Iowa DNR News

Environmental Services Division

  


For immediate release                                                                                 May 25, 2009


 

1.	DNR investigates diesel sheen investigated in Sioux City 
2.	DNR investigates fish kill in Iowa City 

 

DNR INVESTIGATES DIESEL SHEEN IN SIOUX CITY

 

SIOUX CITY - A diesel sheen that affected approximately one mile of Perry Creek in Sioux City was found to have been coming from a city storm sewer.

 

The DNR was alerted to the sheen around 7:30 p.m. Sunday by employees of the Argosy Casino in Sioux City. A source of the sheen could not be found Sunday night due to darkness. Working with city employees Monday, the diesel sheen was found to be coming from a storm sewer that empties into Perry Creek on the 200 block of Ninth Street and ultimately flows to the Missouri River.

 

No dead fish were found where the sheen was visible.

 

"The storm sewer system where the diesel is coming from drains a sizeable portion of the city so it may be we won't be able to determine exactly where it came from," said Ken Hessenius, supervisor of the DNR's field office in Spencer.

 

Hessenius said it's also difficult to determine how much diesel product was released into the storm sewer because it floats on top and it does not take much too create a sheen over a wide area of water.

 

Hessenius said it is important for citizens to realize that storm sewers empty directly to waterways and that materials that get dumped into storm sewers end up in Iowa's creeks and rivers.

 

The sheen will eventually dissipate and is not expected to have a long-term environmental impact.

 

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.

 

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DNR INVESTIGATES FISH KILL IN IOWA CITY

 

IOWA CITY - A fish kill at Creekside Park in Iowa City was being investigated over the weekend by the Iowa DNR.

 

Hundreds of dead fish were found along approximately a mile-and-a-half long stretch of a tributary of Ralston Creek which runs through the park and a residential area, The fish kill was reported Sunday afternoon by a citizen. The creek was traced back to a tile line in a rural area, but there was no indication of manure or fertilizer run-off based on field testing. Water samples were taken and have been sent to a laboratory for analysis.

 

Investigation of the fish kill is continuing.

 

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.

 

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Kevin Baskins

Communications Bureau Chief

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

515-281-8395

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