

Fish kills more likely when streams are low

September 26, 2013

Des Moines Four fish kills in one month are good reminders to pay attention during fall manure and fertilizer application.

Name the pollutant fertilizer, manure, milk, silage, pesticide, petroleum if it gets into a stream, it's more likely to cause a fish kill when stream flow rates are slow.

"Our streams here aren't as low as last year, but they are significantly low," said Scott Grummer, DNR fisheries biologist in Clear Lake. "And if you have low flows, any concentration of crop fertilizer, including manure, that reaches a stream can cause ammonia levels to rise and oxygen levels to dive. That can be detrimental to fish."

Despite a somewhat later harvest, Grummer said he's already seeing manure and fertilizer application on cropland that was too wet to plant last spring. He recommends allowing a little more distance between application areas and vulnerable spots like streams and tile intakes this fall.

"Slow down and take care during application, because every fall we see some overturned tankers," said Cindy Martens, a DNR environmental specialist who investigates fish kills. "Read the labels on all chemicals, because some are toxic at extremely low concentrations. Even seemingly safe products, like milk, can be pollutants if they reach a stream in large quantities."

She also urges manure applicators to make sure their certification is current and have an emergency plan so if spills occur, they can act quickly to stop or reduce the spill. Finally, applicators should call the 24-hour spill line at 515-281-8694 if a spill occurs. "We can help people get the spill stopped and, hopefully, limit environmental damage."

DNR staff investigated four fish kills in September.

The first occurred Sept. 1 on the Little Rock River near Doon in Lyon County. DNR environmental specialists traced the pollutant source to runoff from two cattle open feedlots. The DNR's fisheries staff found 522 dead fish, including catfish and smallmouth bass, along 1.75 miles of stream. The fish value is $2,349.







I am looking for:
News, Blogs & Events Web