Fish Kill Event - Spring Creek
NE of Osage
- Event ID
- 1027
- Date of Kill
- 3/23/2021
- Waterbody Type
- River/Stream
- Cause Origin
- Unknown
- Cause
- Unknown (Anthro Suspected)
- Mode
- N/A
- Magnitude
- 4 (5001 - 10,000 fish killed)
- Estimated Fish Killed
- 6,356
- Kill Length
- 0.29 miles
- Valuation
- $2,251.87
- Investigation Expenses
- $1,039.34
- County
- Mitchell
- ESD Field Office
- FO 2
- Fisheries Office
- Decorah State Hatchery
- LongDD
- -92.77198
- LatDD
- 43.29627
- Created Date
- 10/7/2022 9:42:26 AM
- Last Update
- 10/7/2022 9:42:26 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.
While the primary cause of kill is unknown, it was not due to winter conditions.
Fish kill assessment was made by a complete count of all dead fish encountered because the stream was completely accessible, kill extended less than 3 miles, and water clarity was adequate.
Theresa Shay was contacted by an anonymous caller on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at noon who reported seeing a large number of dead fish from the bridge on 370 th St. and Noble Ave. They didn’t know how long ago the kill occurred.
Shay reported the kill to ESD FO 2, Mason City. Theresa Shay and Steve Pecinovsky arrived on site at 2pm and began determination of extent and possible cause of kill. ESD staff arrived shortly after and began taking water samples. It was difficult to determine age of kill based on various states of body condition of fish. Due to time of day and rain, it was decided to return the following day to count fish. Staff counted and measured all dead fish found over a 0.29 mile distance until no dead fish were observed. No weights were taken due to poor body condition of the fish.
| Species | Number Killed |
| Minnows, Shiners, Chubs, and Dace | 5850 |
| Suckers | 480 |
| Darters | 3 |
| Brown Trout | 5 |
| Stone Rollers | 18 |