The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has received a shocking report from local authorities that toxic waste has spilled in a river.
According to KMTV 3, the report revealed that liquid nitrogen fertilizer from NEW Cooperative in Red Oak has seeped into the East Nishnabotna River.
The fertilizer spill was due to valve on a storage tank being left open during the weekend of March 11.
The DNR also indicated that 1,500 tons, or 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer was released – which has led to the deaths of 749,000 fish within a 50-mile stretch of the river.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has received a shocking report from local authorities on March 11 that toxic waste spilled into the East Nishnabotna River
The DNR indicated that 1,500 tons, or 265,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer was released – which has led to the deaths of 749,000 fish within a 50-mile stretch of the river
Liquid nitrogen fertilizer is effective for outdoor plants, vegetables, and fruit trees and is also a common chemical that kills fish.
The fertilizer spill is one of the region’s most ecologically devastating chemical spills regarding aquatic life.
‘Areas of pooled fertilizer have been pumped into a vac truck and will be land applied later,’ the DNR wrote in their news release.
Science supervisor Matt Combes of Missouri analyzed the damage and is referring to this fertilizer spill as ‘the big one.’
‘Calling something a near-total fish kill for 60 miles of a river is astounding and disheartening,’ he told The New York Times.
Environmental Specialist Brent Martens told KMTV that fertilizer was weakened by the end of the week, but the damage had already been done.
The DNR is now encouraging Iowa residents with private wells near the river to contact local public health offices to have those wells tested for chemicals.
According to the DNR’s recent news release, 9,255 Common Carp fish were killed due to the liquid nitrogen fertilizer spill
Other fish that were killed due to the fertilizer spill were 69 Silver Carps. According to the DNR’s data, more than 700,000 Minnow Shiner Dace Chub fish were killed
Despite the incident occurring more than two weeks ago, the investigation is still ongoing.
‘Field test results indicate ammonia levels are declining in the river,’ the DNR confirmed via KMTV 3.
‘The DNR continues to advise people to avoid recreating on the river and collecting and/or eating dead fish found on or near the river.’
Water program director of the Iowa Environmental Council Alicia Vasto told The New York Times that she’s hoping this ‘wakes up some people’ to the situation regarding the waterways in Iowa.