A warning’s gone out for people along the Turkey River in three northeast Iowa counties. Fisherman and other recreational users are being ask to avoid the Turkey River for a few days after vandals released partially treated wastewater into the river at Fort Atkinson. City workers discovered a valve open Thursday at the wastewater treatment plant.
Since the wastewater lagoon was covered with ice, city workers are not sure how much waste was released, or how long the valve was open. The release poses a concern from Fort Atkinson to Elkader, as the Turkey River runs through Winneshiek, Fayette and Clayton Counties.