Fish Kill Event - Unnamed Tributary to Mud Creek
near Lester, IA
- Event ID
- 1021
- Date of Kill
- 4/14/2021
- Waterbody Type
- River/Stream
- Cause Origin
- Anthropogenic
- Cause
- Animal Waste
- Mode
- Pumping Incident
- Animal Waste Source
- Land-Applied
- Animal Type
- Cattle (Dairy)
- Approx Head
- Unknown/Unspecified
- Magnitude
- 7 (50,001 - 100,000 fish killed)
- Estimated Fish Killed
- 96,168
- Kill Length
- 13.66 miles
- Valuation
- $24,127.26
- Investigation Expenses
- $1,958.82
- County
- Lyon
- ESD Field Office
- FO 3
- Fisheries Office
- Spirit Lake Hatchery
- LongDD
- -96.31194
- LatDD
- 43.47665
- Created Date
- 9/29/2022 9:38:07 AM
- Last Update
- 9/29/2022 10:28:09 AM
Highlighted river segments indicate those impacted in part or whole by this fish kill event. It is not meant to represent the actual extent of the kill.
Manure from an irrigation unit flowed to the stream after it became stuck. Several hundred thousand gallons of liquid manure flowed through fields reaching a tributary of Mud Creek and then flowed into Mud Creek.
Bernie Baker of Rock Bottom Dairy reported spilling several hundred thousand gallons of manure today after an irrigation unit became stuck. The liquid manure flowed through fields, including some with cover crops or pasture, to reach a tributary of Mud Creek and then flowed into Mud Creek.
Slow flow rates are causing the manure-laden water to move slowly downstream. DNR recommends livestock producers who depend upon Mud Creek as a water source to check stream conditions for the next few days.
DNR staff found many dead fish, including bullheads, minnows and chubs, when they arrived about 3:20 p.m.
| Species | Number Killed | Value |
| Minnow Shiner Dace Chub | 85,686 | $10,282.38 |
| Suckers | 6871 | $10,193.39 |
| Stoneroller | 157 | $18.79 |
| Darters | 2860 | $2687.49 |
| Common Carp | 80 | $33.80 |
| Madtom/Stonecat | 162 | $80.21 |
| Green Sunfish | 314 | $260.11 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 38 | $571.08 |
| Total | 96,168 | $24,127.26 |