Iowa DNR News
Environmental Services Division

For immediate release June 19, 2007

RUNOFF FROM ABANDONED CONFINEMENT PIT LEADS TO FISH KILL IN LOUISA
COUNTY

MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Sievers at (319) 653-2135 or Josh Sobaski at (319)
653-1852

COLUMBUS CITY – Hog manure from an abandoned confinement pit flowed
into a running stream Monday night near Columbus City, resulting in a
fish kill.

The confinement is owned by Randy Wood of nearby Columbus Junction.

DNR Environmentalist Specialist Jim Sievers said DNR fisheries staff is
cleaning the contaminated area and trying to determine an accurate fish
count.
 
“They were seeing dead minnows, carp, suckers and bullheads,” he
said. “We’re expecting the number of dead fish to be in the several
thousands,” Sievers said.

The DNR received a report of the incident around 5:30 p.m. Monday. The
semi-liquid hog manure inundated a tributary that runs into Monkey Run
Creek.

When the abandoned confinement building was demolished, the manure pit
underneath was filled with dirt. However, the manure left in the pit was
forced out by the fill dirt causing runoff to enter the water. The DNR
found high ammonia levels in the creek which caused the fish kill.

“This case is unusual because manure was still left in the pit.
Before these buildings were demolished, it should have been taken care
of,” Sievers said.

Manure from animal feeding operations must be properly land applied
after abandonment.

The DNR will continue to investigate the incident and monitor clean-up.
Possible enforcement action, including restitution for killed fish, is
also being considered.

Writer: Holly Williams
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