IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

August 16, 2007
For immediate release

1. Rembrandt fish kill traced to truck wash
2. Two natural fish kills in northwest Iowa

REMBRANDT FISH KILL TRACED TO TRUCK WASH

MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Young or Ken Hessenius at (712) 262-4177.

REMBRANDT — A DNR investigation into a Buena Vista County fish kill
first reported Monday has traced the source of the fish kill to a truck
wash.

Binder Livestock Trailer Washout of Sioux Rapids had legally
land-applied industrial wastewater from its facility on fields near
Rembrandt. However, the wastewater seeped through the soil into tile
lines, delivering the wastewater to an unnamed tributary of the Raccoon
River. The wastewater turned the stream red and killed 732 suckers.

“When land-applying, whether it’s industrial wastewater or manure,
people need to be aware of tile lines, especially in dry conditions,”
said Nate Young, an environmental specialist with the DNR’s Spencer
field office. “Tile lines drain fields directly to streams and
lakes.”

The DNR will consider further enforcement action and restitution for
fish killed.

A citizen reported the discoloration of the stream on Sunday, and the
DNR discovered the fish kill Monday. The fish kill took place about
three miles south and a mile east of Rembrandt.

# # #

TWO NATURAL FISH KILLS IN NORTHWEST IOWA

MEDIA CONTACT: Mick Klemesrud at (515) 281-8653.

SPIRIT LAKE – Low water levels and high water temperatures are the
cause for two natural fish kills in northwest Iowa. 

A natural fish kill involving primarily suckers occurred on an area on
the Ocheyedan River, starting near the Osceola County Conservation Board
headquarters.  The other fish kill happened in the goose pen area off
Ingham Lake, in Emmet County, and affected carp. The goose pen area is
shallow and cut off from the lake. 

“Often when only one fish species is affected the cause is natural.
Natural causes can occur seasonally, like in these instances with the
low water flows and warm water temperatures,” said Mike Hawkins,
fisheries management biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources. 

“If a pollutant were responsible we would see a much broader impact
with multiple species affected. Regardless of the cause, we need the
public to call the DNR whenever they see dead fish,” he said. 

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