Fertilizer spill reaches East Nishnabotna
DNR staff continue to investigate the New Cooperative fertilizer spill near Red Oak in Montgomery County. The release has been stopped and clean-up efforts are still underway.
The product flowed several miles downstream of Red Oak in the East Nishnabotna River, reaching Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has been notified.
The DNR encourages private well owners in Montgomery, Page, and Fremont counties with wells in near proximity to the East Nishnabotna River to contact their county health department to test their wells for nitrate. This service is free using Iowa's Grants-to-Counties (GTC) program.
The DNR will be providing county health officials with lists of registered private wells that may be vulnerable.
Due to low water levels in the East Nishnabotna, the concentration of the liquid nitrogen fertilizer is higher than during normal stream flows, causing concern for all animals due to high nitrate and urea levels.
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Toxicologist Scott Radke recommends keeping all animals away from the East Nishnabotna River until the plume of contaminant moves out of the area.
The Iowa DNR is working with local, state and federal officials, and will continue to investigate impacts of the spill.
Red Oak city administrator Kyra Smith said Red Oak's drinking water would be unaffected.
"I have spoken with Rich Figgins in the water department. He had reported to me that the spill does not affect the city drinking water as we pull from the aquafer and not from the river. The City has outstanding water quality, and it is monitored regularly," Smith said.