DNR seeks information about Jasper County fish kill

Some central Iowa residents might not think of land or waterways located west of U.S. 65 or Iowa Highway 330 as Jasper County. However, there is a small triangle-shaped area in the county that is located on the opposite side of that roadway that’s in the county — and it’s where a recent fish kill affected Jasper County waterways.

A fish kill along Wolf Creek, which cuts through Jasper County, has been traced to high ammonia levels flowing out of an underground tile line about one mile southwest of Collins in Story County, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The most likely source of ammonia is fertilizer, manure or other sources like a cleaning product or industrial byproduct.

Bill Gibbons is an environmental specialist at the DNR’s Des Moines area field office.

“We don’t know exactly where or how it got into the tile line. It could have been through a storm drain in town or a tile inlet in the country,” Gibbons said. “This is a good reminder that tile inlets and storm drains along the street carry water and pollutants directly to a nearby stream. People need to take care and dispose of unused chemicals and fertilize properly.”

The fish kill spanned more than nine miles of Wolf Creek starting near Collins and running south to Jasper County. More than 66,500 fish died, mostly minnows, shiners, stonerollers and chubs. Some bullheads, sunfish, and small-mouth and large-mouth bass were also killed.

A farmer reported the fish kill Sept. 3 after discovering dead fish on his property.

When Gibbons investigated, he found elevated levels of ammonia and dead fish below where a county tile line empties into Wolf Creek, while live minnows swam above the area. Gibbons visited with livestock facilities and a local co-op, but found no evidence of spills.

Crops haven’t been harvested yet, so farmers haven’t started applying fertilizer or manure. Lab results from water samples collected on Sept. 3 show ammonia nitrogen levels that are toxic to fish — 9.9 and 40 milligrams per liter — below the tile outlet.

DNR fisheries staff determined the value of the fish killed was $7,082.19 and the cost of the fisheries investigation at $939.67.

The DNR is still seeking the responsible person. Anyone having information can call the DNR’s Windsor Heights field office at515-725-0268.

Report spills and fish kills to the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com