Fish kill investigation on Tischer Creek reports higher amount of water leaked
Dead fish lie in Tischer Creek in Duluth, Minnesota, Aug. 5, 2024. They MPCA investigated the site after a report was made to the Minnesota Duty Officer about the release of about 500,000 gallons of city water from a reservoir July 31, 2024. More than 1,000 dead fish, including brook trout, were counted. (Photo by MPCA watershed ecologist Jeff Jasperson)
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released new details on Tuesday, September 3rd in the investigation into the July 31 fish kill at Duluth’s Tischer Creek.
MPCA Communications Specialist Beverly Godfrey says the city of Duluth drained an estimated 1.7 million gallons of chloraminated water into the creek from the Woodland Reservoir over a 15-hour period as part of a maintenance operation for the city’s drinking water system.
An initial report indicated a release of an estimated 500,000 gallons, but Godfrey says the city revised this amount in its update to the MPCA to 1.7-million gallons.
Godfrey says while this release did not pose a risk to human health, it created conditions that were potentially toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
On August 13th, A smaller leak at the same reservoir was reported by the city on Tuesday, August 13.
Official statement from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Sept. 3,2024
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency continues to investigate the July 31 fish kill at Duluth’s Tischer Creek.
The City of Duluth drained an estimated 1.7 million gallons of chloraminated water into the creek from the Woodland Reservoir over a 15-hour period as part of a maintenance operation for the city’s drinking water system, according to information provided to the MPCA by the city. An initial report indicated a release of an estimated 500,000 gallons, and the city revised this amount in its update to the MPCA. While this release did not pose a risk to human health, it created conditions that were potentially toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
On Aug. 13, a smaller leak at the same reservoir was reported by the city. The city performed an emergency excavation and routed the leaking water into the sanitary sewer.
Field crews collected invertebrate samples on Aug. 13 at five locations along Tischer Creek. These samples will provide another biological indicator to determine the impact of the fish kill and the rate of recovery time. Results for those tests will take several months and will inform future choices about what steps can be taken to help the creek recover. Early reporting is critical. If you see dead fish in a lake or river, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 800-422-0798 24 hours a day. If there is an immediate threat to life or property, call 911 first.
The MPCA says additional samplings were taken from five locations along Tischer Creek, but those results will not be available for several months.
On Wednesday, September 4, the City of Duluth provided a statement regarding the incident:
The City of Duluth is fully cooperating with regulatory agencies conducting the investigation regarding the fish kill at Tischer Creek discovered on August 1.
In the course of a maintenance operation on a nearby drinking water reservoir, the City of Duluth discharged clean, potable drinking water into the stormwater sewer system, which then flowed into Tischer Creek. The City of Duluth would like to reaffirm that the water discharged into the stormwater system on August 1 was safe, clean, and potable for humans and house pets as it left the reservoir. Normal precautions should always be taken when swimming, bathing, or ingesting in natural bodies of water like Tischer Creek.
The City of Duluth will not have further comment in light of the ongoing investigation.
This story has been updated to change “chlorinated water” to “chloraminated water.”