State officials are advising folks to stay away from a northeast Iowa stream. A power outage in Asbury caused about 135-thousand gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into a tributary of the Little Maquoketa River. Mike Wade, an environmental specialist for the Department of Natural Resources, says people should stay away from the tributary, called the Cloie Branch, and keep their children and pets away from it for the next 24 to 48 hours. Wade is investigating the incident, and has ordered Asbury city workers to test the wastewater for fecal coliform bacteria, organic matter and ammonia levels. However, Wade found no dead fish in the area. The city reported the incident to state officials yesterday afternoon.
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