Des Moines-Iowa environmental investigators will be issuing a citation to Golden Furrow Fertilizer Inc. at Fairfield after identifying the source of ammonia and other chemicals responsible for the deaths of thousands of fish, according to natural resources authorities. The fish kill last month involved a 3.3-mile stretch of Crow Creek and an unnamed tributary. Authorities also said the state will seek restitution for the 7,681 fish killed. Restitution and costs incurred during the investigation are expected to amount to approximately $12,358. They said additional enforcement actions could be forthcoming following completion of the investigation. The kill was reported Sept. 14 to Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources officials, who said the ensuing investigation led to a drainage pipe on the Golden Furrow property that drained to an unnamed tributary and eventually to Crow Creek. Reports indicated dead fish were observed below the drainage pipe, but none was found above. Recent test results from water samples taken at the source at the time of the kill showed ammonia readings of 130 parts per million, a level toxic to fish. Smaller levels of various herbicide and pesticide chemicals were also detected in the samples. The lead investigator in the DNR field office hadn’t filed his report, so there was no indication of what had been released into the creek or how much and what the circumstances were. Crow Creek runs through the city of Fairfield; the Golden Furrow site is located on the north side of Fairfield.
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