Fish Kill Event - Floyd River
N of Sanborn, between Polk Ave and Oak Hill Ave
- Event ID
- 988
- Date of Kill
- 8/18/2018
- Waterbody Type
- River/Stream
- Cause Origin
- Unknown
- Cause
- Unknown
- Mode
- N/A
- Magnitude
- 2 (101 - 1000 fish killed)
- Estimated Fish Killed
- 115
- Kill Length
- 6.30 miles
- County
- O'Brien
- ESD Field Office
- FO 3
- Fisheries Office
- Spirit Lake Hatchery
- LongDD
- -95.70360
- LatDD
- 43.24255
- Created Date
- 3/17/2020 9:11:47 AM
- Last Update
- 1/29/2024 11:07:52 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.
On August 18, 2018 a fish kill was reported by Conservation Officer John Sells on the Floyd River northeast of Sheldon, Iowa. The following day ESD personnel were on site and documented dead fish beginning at the confluence of the North Fork of the Floyd River and the Floyd River extending 6.3 miles downstream. Jed Siegwarth, Fisheries Aide, was available to investigate the kill. He observed a similar extent with the kill beginning above Polk Ave and ending on Oak Hill Ave.
As of 8/20/2018, ESD had not identified a source.
Siegwarth arrived on scene at approximately 1:00 p.m. on 8/20/2018. He observed the area under and around the bridges that crossed over the Floyd River in the area of the kill. The river was within its banks with signs the river had been about 1 foot higher in recent days. There were no signs of live fish in the stream. Three species of dead fish were observed: green sunfish, white sucker and stonecat/madtom. Fish sizes ranged from 2 to 10 inches. Many of the fish found were in an advanced stage of decay making identification difficult, indicating the kill occurred a 2-4 days prior. There was heavy scavenger activity apparent in all locations.
Siegwarth counted dead fish on one bank at two 50 yard sections of stream. The first section contained 53 dead fish (upstream of Polk Ave bridge), and the second had 62 (upstream of Oak Hill Ave bridge).
No expansions or further investigation were completed because of the late notification, advanced decay of the fish, and finding of no responsible party.