For immediate release: July 19, 2009


CAUSE OF FISH KILL DETERMINED IN CEDAR RAPIDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Baskins, DNR, at (515) 249-2814.

CEDAR RAPIDS - Investigation of a small fish kill at Noelridge Park in Cedar Rapids has found the cause to be from employees of nearby Harding Middle School dumping a stripper/wax solution into a storm sewer.

The fish kill was reported Saturday by a citizen who had noticed some small dead fish near the shoreline and a yellow-colored substance in the water. The investigation determined that school workers working on linoleum floors had been dumping contents of wet vacs into the storm sewer that empties into a stream running adjacent to the school and then through the park. Workers from the Cedar Rapids School District and city of Cedar Rapids pumped the material from the stream on Sunday.

The school district was advised to have separate containers on site to empty material from the wet vacs into while work is being done on the floors.

The DNR will determine the appropriate enforcement action for the incident.



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