IDNR Investigates Fish Kill at Little Maquoketa River

Peosta, Iowa — The Iowa DNR is investigating a fish kill at the Little Maquoketa River near the City of Peosta in northwest Iowa’s Dubuque County.

On October 1, the DNR Field Office in Manchester was notified of a possible manure release and fish kill in an unnamed tributary of the Little Maquoketa River, north of Peosta.

DNR staff from the Manchester Field Office responded to the incident. Upon arrival, staff observed dead fish and murky conditions.

Officials identified manure runoff from an animal feeding operation near the unnamed tributary as the source of the release. The amount of manure released is unknown. Cleanup efforts have begun. The responsible party has been notified, and has started working to control manure runoff. The incident remains under investigation.