Sustainability Corner: Fertilizer spill in Iowa kills close to 800,000 fish
On Mar. 11, 2024, it was learned that a fertilizer spill occurred in southwestern Iowa. At least 250,000 gallons of liquid nitrogen spilled “into a drainage ditch and into the East Nishnabotna River, which flows into the Nishnabotna River and then the Missouri River.”
According to the New York Times, the spill began when “a valve was left open over a weekend on a storage tank at NEW Cooperative, an agricultural business in Red Oak, in southwestern Iowa.” It has been declared recently that in the 60-mile river stretch within both Iowa and Missouri, an estimated 789,000 fish are dead. In Missouri alone, 40,000 fish are estimated to have perished as a result of this spill. Small and large breeds alike, such as minnows and catfish, were affected, as individuals close to the affected areas reported viewing thousands of dead animals in the water.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time a situation similar to this has happened in Iowa. In 2013, a runoff from a dairy farm killed a similar number of fish. These two events, roughly ten years apart from each other, are considered medium to large events for deaths, as indicated by fishery experts. This recent event is considered one of the five largest fish kills on record in the state of Iowa. Additionally, because of the colossal nature of the spill, some of the tainted water has flowed into other bodies of water in Missouri. It is unknown whether any fish have been affected by this spread as of right now.
Due to the severity of this event, many experts have stated that it is going to take the ecosystem an extended amount of time to recover. Alicia Vasto, a water program director for the Iowa Environmental Council, a nonprofit group, states, “I hope that this kind of wakes some people up to the sad situation of our waterways here.” Ecological and fishery experts have been deeply saddened and troubled by this situation and the continual occurrence of such events.
Although there is little specific data on fertilizer spills, it is known through experts and officials alike that these contaminants are transpiring frequently. Even without massive spills contaminating the water, dispenses of sewage or heated water have been killing large masses of fish for years as well. Due to the length of the river and the escalated death of the fish, though, this circumstance is considered to be a large and unfortunate occurrence.
There has been some advocacy for the environment in Iowa; however, since the state legislature is prominently run by Republicans, it has been increasingly difficult to receive any effort towards aiding the environment in Iowa. There is still some feeling of hope for the individuals of Iowa, however, and that this disastrous event could lead to some change for the area’s environmental legislation.