Sheldon, Iowa — Iowa DNR investigators are responding to a fish kill along the Little Floyd River near Sheldon.
According to the DNR’s Tom Roos, the kill was reported Wednesday afternoon by a person who had spotted some dead fish while out for a walk. Roos says it initially appeared to involve a small number of fish, but a follow-up investigation indicates that the kill has stretched at least three miles, and involved hundreds of fish, mostly small chubs, minnows, and suckers.
Several water samples taken Wednesday showed no signs of elevated ammonia, and there were no obvious signs, or smell of, manure, according to the DNR Spencer Field Office. However, investigators said the water was turbid due to recent rains.
Environmental and fisheries officials are currently assessing the extent of the kill, and Roos says the origin of the fish kill is a mystery at this point, but he says the investigation is ongoing.
Roos says the fish kill is located in Section 3 of Carroll Township, which is about 3 miles east-southeast of Sheldon.
