IDEM: Tippecanoe Co. fish kill signals chemical leak

After the discovery of a large fish kill, IDEM is advising the public to stay out of the waters around Flint Creek in Tippecanoe County.

On Sunday afternoon, IDEM Emergency Response was dispatched to a report of a significant number of dead fish in West Point, Indiana, after notification from conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, according to a Monday news release.

The IDEM on-scene coordinator noticed the fish kill stretching about 10 miles starting in a tributary to Flint Run in the area of 7700 700 W. Flint Run connects to Flint Creek, where dead fish were also observed. Flint Creek flows into the Wabash River, which is being evaluated.

Elevated levels of ammonia nitrogen were detected at the initial site. The OSC determined the source to be a leak from a large (30,000-gallon capacity) tank at the nearby Scott Miller Farm containing liquid nitrogen fertilizer. IDEM has contacted the property owner, who has implemented containment measures to stop the fertilizer leak.

IDEM and DNR will monitor the area and is recommending that the general public and animals stay out of the tributary to Flint Run, Flint Run and Flint Creek while mitigation efforts are ongoing.

IDEM will continue to monitor the situation, officials said, and compliance staff will thoroughly investigate the cause of this incident.