DNR investigates four fish kills in Northeast Iowa

Four fishkills are being investigated in northern Iowa by the Department of Natural Resources, the biggest of the four in Mason City. D-N-R environmental specialist Eric Wickland says a door making company, Graham Manufacturing, is to blame as a glue and water mixture was dumped into a storm sewer and made its way along about one mile of Chisel Creek and an associated tributary. He says thousands of fish were killed.The fish were primarily smaller species such as minnows, chubs and shiners. Heavy equipment was used to dam the stream, preventing the pollution from reaching a pond full of sportfish at Lester Milligan Park. Wickland says Graham Manufacturing will likely be fined. He says they’ll total up the fish and determine their monetary value and then decided about other fines.Three other fish kills at Lyons Creek in Webster City, the South Fork of the Iowa River in Hamilton County and the Shell Rock River south of Greene are also currently being investigated by the DNR.