Posted by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] (Two articles -- Please note
this is the first DNR news release that included information about the
Wright County fish kill of December 13. There were other items in this
issue that I have deleted to shorten the message.)
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Jan. 10, 2002
Contamination on Floyd River appears to be dissipating
Final count on Wright County fish kill exceeds 150,000 fish
CONTAMINATION ON FLOYD RIVER APPEARS TO BE DISSIPATING
ALTON - Contaminated water in the Floyd River from a fertilizer spill
originating 20 miles up stream in Sheldon reached a dam in Alton today and
appears to be dissipating.
The "hot zone" or area of the slug considered to be toxic to fish was
estimated at approximately five miles long on Thursday afternoon, about a
third in length to the estimated 15 miles on Wednesday. However, the spill
is expected to have killed all fish in the river for the entire 20 miles it
has moved so far and the final fish kill estimates are expected to total in
the hundreds of thousands of fish.
The liquid nitrogen fertilizer spilled onto the ground when a transfer pipe
leading to a bulk storage tank froze and then split at Midwest Farmer's
Co-op on Monday. Up to 7,896 gallons of the nitrogen used for fertilizer was
lost in the spill. The nitrogen landed outside of a containment dike
designed to prevent accidents then flowed to a storm drain that eventually
empties into the river.
The city of Alton has 460,000 gallons of treated water stored in a reservoir
to meet its needs for three days while the contaminated water moves through.
It was still undetermined on Thursday as to how long it may take for the
contaminated water to pass Alton. There are no other water supplies
expecting to be impacted downstream.
Ammonia levels of up to 250 parts per million were found along portions of
the Floyd River on Wednesday. By Thursday, the highest levels found by DNR
investigators were 75 parts per million. The level considered toxic to fish
is approximately 10 parts per million.
"At this point, the contaminated plume seems to be dissipating and
shortening in length. We'll know more tomorrow (Friday) after the
contaminated water has a chance to go over the dam as to how much the
contamination is dissipating," said Bryon Whiting, an environmental
specialist for the DNR's field office in Spencer.
Drainage to the Floyd River doubles approximately every 20 miles so more
dilution of the fertilizer is occurring as the plume continues down steam,
Whiting said.
Meanwhile, the co-op continues to pump contaminated water into tank trucks
from the storm drain.
"We are not going to be letting any water flow from that storm sewer until
we are confident that the contamination is no longer there," Whiting said.
For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395 or (515)
963-1950.
FINAL COUNT ON WRIGHT COUNTY FISH KILL EXCEEDS 150,000 FISH
CLARION - An estimated 160,007 fish valued at $13,272.65 were killed as a
result of a nitrogen fertilizer spill near here last month.
The spill occurred on Dec. 13 when a gauge on a bulk storage tank broke at
the Clarion site of North Central Farm Service. Secondary containment around
the facility held most of the material, but an estimated 3,800 to 4,000
gallons of the fertilizer escaped through a seam in the concrete. At least
some of fertilizer reached a tile line that eventually emptied into a
drainage ditch leading to White Fox Creek.
The DNR investigation determined that approximately 11 miles of stream were
impacted by the incident.
In addition to the fish restitution, the DNR is continuing to investigate
the incident to determine if any further enforcement actions are justified.
For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395 or (515)
963-1950.
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