FORT DODGE – Wednesday, the DNR investigated a report of discolored and foamy water in Holiday Creek about two miles east of Fort Dodge.
DNR specialists traced the pollutant source to an underground tile line. Checking with local businesses, the DNR identified the pollutant as lignin sulfonate, used by Calcium Products to manufacture a soil fertility product.
Company officials said the lignin sulfonate is stored in an indoor tank and they are unsure how it spilled. The company plugged the tile line and are cleaning up the road ditch above Holiday Creek.
DNR took water samples for laboratory testing. Specialists saw no sign of dead fish or aquatic animals, but the bulk of the product had moved downstream before they arrived.
The DNR will continue to monitor cleanup and will consider appropriate enforcement action.
Anyone seeing signs of a pollutant or fish kill should call the DNR’s 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 to report it.