The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a spill into Prairie Creek. (Photo via Google Maps)
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a spill of several hundred gallons of red dye into Prairie Creek and a separate incident of 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of untreated wastewater that flowed into Saylor Creek.
According to a press release from the department, a 330-gallon tote of red dye for wood mulch was punctured while on a truck in Maquoketa. The dye flowed to nearby Prairie Creek on Tuesday.
The creeks feeds into the Maquoketa River, which DNR said was expected to “take on a red color” sometime Wednesday, despite ongoing clean-up efforts.
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The dye is not expected to impact fish and no dead fish have been reported in the creek from the event, according to DNR.
DNR is also investigating a separate incident in Ankeny, where a broken force main caused a spill of untreated wastewater into Saylor Creek.
The leak, which has been stopped, occurred near a lift station at 940 SW Ankeny Road. DNR said the city will make repairs to the force main “as soon as possible.”
According to DNR, no dead fish have been observed on site or downstream of the event, though people and pets are advised to avoid the water.