Maquoketa - On Tuesday around 11 a.m., a 330 gallon tote of wood mulch dye was punctured on a semi truck at the Kwik Star at 102 David Street in Maquoketa. Dye entered nearby Prairie Creek via a storm drain, turning the creek red.
DNR staff were on site yesterday and spoke with both the responsible party and cleanup crews. Cleanup is ongoing. Prairie Creek empties into the Maquoketa River and the river is expected to take on a red color sometime today. Impacts to fish are not expected and no dead fish have been observed.
DNR environmental staff are on site again today to provide technical assistance to aid cleanup efforts.