Water main break kills 1,250 fish in Cedar Rapids’ McLoud Run

CEDAR RAPIDS — Around 1,250 fish were killed this week when a broken water main released chlorinated drinking water into McLoud Run, a trout stream in Cedar Rapids. It is the second time this year that chlorinated water has reached the stream through a broken main.

Chris Mack, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said he walked a milelong stretch of the stream Tuesday and counted the dead fish. He said about two-thirds of the fish killed were white suckers, 30 percent were trout, and the rest were a combination of smaller fish, like minnows and chubs.

The city notified the DNR of the water main break Monday. Staff from both entities observed “stressed” fish in the stream. Mack said the investigation is complete after his count Tuesday, but he plans to finalize the report in the coming days.

The break reportedly occurred near 3224 Oakland Rd. NE, and the treated drinking water drained to 3221 Center Point Rd., eventually reaching McLoud Run. The DNR reported that the city dispensed dechlorination tablets into the released water to minimize the impact.

The kill comes weeks after the DNR stocked the stream with about 8,500 trout — mostly fingerling and rainbow — between June and August.

McLoud Run is Iowa’s only urban trout stream. It also is the most southerly trout stream in the state. Fish species in this stream include brown trout, creek chub, rainbow trout, green sunfish and white sucker.

The DNR is planning to stock McLoud Run with brown trout in November. Mack said this week’s fish kill will not affect restocking plans.

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A recurring issue

McLoud Run, which runs east of Interstate 380, has experienced 13 fish kills since 1997 — an average of one every two years.

In addition to chlorinated water, chemicals including termite poison, floor-stripping materials and ammonia from dead leaves have entered the water.

Mack said there is a “good chance” the fish that were stocked in McLoud Run this summer were killed as a result of this week’s break.

Fish kills are “a recurring thing in an urban environment,” he said.

The next step in the DNR’s process is assigning a value to the fish that were killed. He said trout are about $15 per fish, but white suckers don’t cost as much. Mack said the fine for the fish kill will go to the City of Cedar Rapids.

The Gazette reported in May that in light of McLoud Run’s string of fish kills, the City of Cedar Rapids was considering installing a sensor system that would alert staff when a water main break occurs, so it can be stopped sooner. The City of Ames has a similar system.

Cedar Rapids reported Tuesday that it purchased seven sensors last month, and anticipates installing them in November.

“The Cedar Rapids Water Department (CRWD) finalized the purchase of sensors that will potentially improve response time and mitigate costly spills into McLoud Run,” Utilities Engineering Manager Dave Wallace said in a statement to The Gazette. “The remote pressure and temperature monitoring sensors are designed to allow CRWD to monitor precise fluctuations in real time. In addition, the system produces alerts when a water grid experiences a hydraulic event or is threatened by rapid changes to pressure or temperature.”

The DNR is asking the public to call its 24-hour spill line at 515-725-8694 with any information related to the fish kill.

Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

Comments: (319) 398-8370; olivia.cohen@thegazette.com