Lacona, Iowa-Investigators from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have completed their count and reported nearly 2,800 fish were killed from the anhydrous ammonia release caused last month by a supply line rupture at South Central Cooperative here (GM Aug. 30, p. 13). They concluded that the runoff from firefighters spraying down the ammonia plume to prevent vapors from harming residents reached the streams with high ammonia levels and caused the fish kill. The kill proceeded downstream as the polluted water flowed into Cotton Creek and then White Breast Creek east of Lacona. Most of the fish were shiners, minnows, and gizzard shad. However, there were also numerous game fish found dead, including channel catfish, sunfish, white bass, and drum. The value of the fish was established at $12,892, but there was no word if the co-op would be held responsible. South Central removed the underground tile line that allowed runoff to reach the stream and built a trench to collect any ongoing runoff following rainfall. DNR officials said they will be working with the co-op to prevent future problems.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain