The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) reported on May 6 that it was notified of a significant number of dead fish in West Point, Ind., on Sunday afternoon, May 5.
It said the fish kill stretched approximately 10 miles starting in a tributary to Flint Run where it connects to Flint Creek in Tippecanoe County, where dead fish were also observed. Flint Creek flows into the Wabash River, which is being evaluated for immediate impacts.
Elevated levels of ammonia nitrogen were detected at the initial site. IDEM determined the source to be a leak from a 30,000-gallon capacity tank at the nearby Scott Miller Farm containing liquid nitrogen fertilizer. IDEM contacted the property owner, who implemented containment measures to stop the fertilizer leak.
IDEM and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources monitored the area and recommended that the general public and animals stay out of the tributary to Flint Run and Flint Creek while mitigation efforts are ongoing.