Fish Kill Event - Whitewater Creek
1 mile SE of Epworth
- Event ID
- 830
- Date of Kill
- 6/19/2011
- Waterbody Type
- River/Stream
- Cause Origin
- Anthropogenic
- Cause
- Animal Waste
- Mode
- Discharge
- Animal Waste Source
- Feedlot
- Animal Type
- Multiple Animals
- Approx Head
- Unknown/Unspecified
- Magnitude
- 8 (100,001 - 500,000 fish killed)
- Estimated Fish Killed
- 104,405
- Kill Length
- 17.95 miles
- Valuation
- $96,482.22
- Investigation Expenses
- $1,190.07
- County
- Dubuque
- ESD Field Office
- FO 1
- Fisheries Office
- Manchester Trout Hatchery
- LongDD
- -90.89765
- LatDD
- 42.42843
- Created Date
- 10/7/2011 10:27:00 AM
- Last Update
- 3/1/2024 11:11:04 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.
Ammonia toxicity associated with manure discharge as determined by Field Office #1 field tests. Open hog lot and a cattle operation on site. Killed fish originated in the SW 1/4 of Section 18, T88N, R1E in Whitewater Creek (1 mile SE of Epworth) and proceeded downstream to the NE 1/4 of Section 26, T87N, R1W (Highway 151 Bridge) for a total distance of 17.95 miles. Our observations of fish and invertebrates at the stream suggest a complete kill in the upper 2.5 miles of the assessment area (Lone Pine Rd to Pilot Grove Road) and an extensive kill from Pilot Grove Rd to East Pleasant Grove Rd (3.2 additional miles). From East Pleasant Grove Rd to the confluence with Curran Branch (5 miles) a moderate to partial kill appeared to have occurred. In the downstream 7 plus miles of assessed stream a partial kill appears to have occurred with additional dead fish floating in from upstream areas
SPECIES | NUMBER KILLED | MONETARY VALUE |
Minnows, shiners, daces, chubs | 52,656 | $4,739.04 |
Redhorses, Hogsuckers, White Suckers, and other Suckers | 43,783 | $81,665.24 |
Carpsuckers | 2 | $0.64 |
Darters | 4,020 | $1,399.93 |
Stoneroller | 460 | $50.49 |
Stonecat | 2,259 | $2,087.81 |
Bluegill | 357 | $5,355.00 |
Smallmouth Bass | 52 | $780.00 |
Fathead Minnow | 1 | $0.07 |
Green Sunfish | 815 | $404.00 |
Total | 104,405 | $96,482.22 |