Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division

For Immediate Release                                                        August 3, 2007

FISH KILL IN ADAIR COUNTY APPEARS TO BE FROM NATURAL CAUSES

MEDIA CONTACTS: Alison Manz or Keith Wilken at (712) 243-1934.

STUART - A small fish kill in the North River near Stuart appears to have occurred due to natural causes, according to the DNR.

A citizen reported the fish kill to the DNR Thursday night. Upon investigation Friday morning, the DNR found about 50 dead chubs, sunfish, minnows and bullheads. The fish kill is contained in a one-mile stretch of stream located south of Stuart and Menlo in Adair County.

DNR staff found mats of algae and brown water in the stream, indicating an algae die-off. When algae die in large numbers, water can turn brown and oxygen levels in the water can fall. Low oxygen levels can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

High water temperatures and low water flows are already stressing fish in many parts of the state, making them more vulnerable when oxygen levels drop.

The DNR has taken water samples to officially determine the cause of the kill.

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