MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Iowa — Iowa DNR staff continue to investigate the release of 1,500 tons of fertilizer into the Nishnabotna River, which is now flowing into Missouri.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), New Cooperative, an agricultural company in Montgomery County, informed the Iowa DNR of a 1,500-ton release of fertilizer on-site on Monday, March 11.
The fertilizer was discharged into a drainage ditch in Red Oak, Iowa, before making its way into the East Nishnabotna River, which also flows through northwestern Missouri and southeastern Nebraska. The Missouri DNR has been notified of the incident.
The Iowa DNR is encouraging private well owners near the river in Montgomery, Page and Fremont counties to contact their county health department to test their wells for nitrate. The service is free using Iowa's Grants-to-Counties (GTC) program.
Because of low water levels in the East Nishnabotna, the concentration of liquid nitrogen fertilizer is higher than normal and causing concern for animals due to high nitrate and urea levels.
The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Toxicologist Scott Radke recommends animal owners keep them away from the river until the fertilizer moves out of the area.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel