blake
Life Member
Call Early to Help Detect Cause of Fish Kills
The DNR received laboratory results from an Aug. 3 fish kill on a tributary of the South Skunk River in Hamilton County, but were not able to link the fish kill to a specific pollutant.
“The neighbor who reported the fish kill waited a day before calling it in,” said Michelle Johnson, a DNR environmental specialist. “It’s likely that the pollutant that caused the fish kill had already drifted downstream and dissipated by that time.”
Johnson added that she would encourage people to report dead fish immediately by calling the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-281-8694. “That way we can take water samples and confirm the pollutant,” she said.
“We’re confident this fish kill was caused by an aerial-sprayed corn fungicide,” she said. “The reporting party saw fish jumping out of the water 15 minutes after the fungicide was sprayed on the neighboring field.”
All other field tests were normal. There were no indications, like odor or discolored water, pointing to another pollutant.
The labels on some farm chemicals prohibit applying in or near streams or lakes. Because these chemicals are toxic to fish, crayfish and other aquatic life at extremely low concentrations even the drift, runoff or rinse water to clean equipment can cause fish kills.
“Reading and following the label is really important with any chemical, on the farm or in the home,” Johnson said.
The DNR estimates nearly 6,000 fish died along about one mile of stream on Aug.3. Mostly minnows, the fish were valued at about $758.
The content for this post came from the Iowa DNR website.
The DNR received laboratory results from an Aug. 3 fish kill on a tributary of the South Skunk River in Hamilton County, but were not able to link the fish kill to a specific pollutant.
“The neighbor who reported the fish kill waited a day before calling it in,” said Michelle Johnson, a DNR environmental specialist. “It’s likely that the pollutant that caused the fish kill had already drifted downstream and dissipated by that time.”
Johnson added that she would encourage people to report dead fish immediately by calling the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-281-8694. “That way we can take water samples and confirm the pollutant,” she said.
“We’re confident this fish kill was caused by an aerial-sprayed corn fungicide,” she said. “The reporting party saw fish jumping out of the water 15 minutes after the fungicide was sprayed on the neighboring field.”
All other field tests were normal. There were no indications, like odor or discolored water, pointing to another pollutant.
The labels on some farm chemicals prohibit applying in or near streams or lakes. Because these chemicals are toxic to fish, crayfish and other aquatic life at extremely low concentrations even the drift, runoff or rinse water to clean equipment can cause fish kills.
“Reading and following the label is really important with any chemical, on the farm or in the home,” Johnson said.
The DNR estimates nearly 6,000 fish died along about one mile of stream on Aug.3. Mostly minnows, the fish were valued at about $758.
The content for this post came from the Iowa DNR website.