FORT DODGE, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said that a fertilizer byproduct leak resulted in a fish kill in a Fort Dodge creek on Monday.

The DNR said field staff responded to a report from CJ Bio America about a leak of a fertilizer byproduct created while making lysine that had entered a stormwater channel on the east side of their plant. CJ Bio America staff told the DNR that they believed the byproduct had been contained, but later discovered they were wrong, as there was a breach in the berm of the stormwater channel.

According to the DNR, an unknown amount of the byproduct flowed into surface intakes nearby, which outlets to the South Branch of Lizard Creek. When field staff arrived at the location they found that the byproduct had traveled downstream and saw dead fish for several miles in the creek.

While the leak has since been stopped, DNR staff were unable to put berms in the creek due to access restrictions and its flow, the DNR said. Those downstream are encouraged to stay out of the creek.

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