Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2007
1. DNR investigating fish kills in western Iowa
2. Industrial wastewater enters Mississippi River
DNR INVESTIGATING FISH KILLS IN WESTERN IOWA
MEDIA CONTACTS: Ken Hessenius (Buena Vista, Mill Creek) at (712)
262-4177; Kirk Mathis or Dan Stipe (Exira) at (712) 243-1934.
DES MOINES — The DNR is investigating three fish kills in western
Iowa on Monday.
On Sunday, a citizen reported a red coloration in a Buena Vista County
stream to the DNR. The DNR observed at least a hundred dead suckers
along the unnamed tributary of the Raccoon River on Monday. The fish
kill is located about three miles south and a mile east of Rembrandt.
Because of the red and pink coloration in the stream, it is possible
that an industrial wastewater lagoon is the source of the fish kill. The
DNR is taking water samples, conducting a fish count and will continue
to investigate.
DNR staff is also investigating a fish kill in a private farm pond east
of Exira in Audubon County. The DNR observed hundreds of dead fish,
primarily small crappies and bluegill, which have likely been dead for a
few days. The DNR has taken samples and will continue to investigate the
cause of the fish kill.
The DNR also investigated a fish kill in Mill Creek near Larrabee in
Cherokee County this weekend. DNR staff report that the fish kill was
more than a week old and was likely related to rainfall.
“It’s possible that some pools along the creek dried up during hot
weather, killing the fish, and heavy rainfalls washed those fish back
into Mill Creek,” said Ken Hessenius of the DNR’s Spencer field
office.
Writer: Jessie Brown
# # #
INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER ENTERS MISSISSIPPI RIVER
MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Heiderscheit at 319-653-2135
CLINTON – Failed pumps at a corn processing facility led to the
plant’s collection tanks overflowing, resulting in the plant bypassing
approximately 90,000 gallons of process water Saturday morning.
The Archer Daniels Midland plant in Clinton reported to DNR staff the
discharge started around 1:25 a.m. Saturday and lasted about 15 minutes.
The collection tanks, located inside the plant, sent the untreated plant
process water to a monitored storm sewer that discharges to the
Mississippi River.
Process water is wastewater generated from manufacturing and industrial
processes. Typically, the pumps send the process water to the plant’s
treatment center before release. According to plant officials, the
discharge did not contain sanitary waste.
The DNR is requesting a written report from the plant detailing what
caused the event and what actions the facility is planning to prevent
future untreated discharges entering Iowa waters.
Archer Daniels Midland manufactures products such as fuel alcohol, corn
oil, starch and sweeteners at the Clinton facility.
Writer: Holly Williams
-30-