PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS FISH KILL
Keysville, GA Town Hall
3pm October 30th All public is encouraged to attend |
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EPD says Fish Kill has Ended, thousands of fish now reported dead. Dear River Lovers,
On Monday we reported a fish kill on Brier Creek outside of the town of Keysville Ga. We would like to share the latest information we currently have available. The City of Waynesboro ceased pulling drinking water from the creek on Monday, it is unknown if this is still the case. We have been told that a significant swing in the pH of the water is responsible for the death of the fish. It is expected that the pH shift was due to an acidic substance moving its way downstream. EPD is reporting thousands of fish currently counted as dead, but counts are ongoing. Water quality chemistries collected by Savannah Riverkeeper support the suspected cause of the fish kill. The location of the discharge resulting in this fish kill has been narrowed significantly , and we are hopeful an exact location will soon be released by EPD.
As this investigation unfolds please continue to stay clear of the waterway until more in depth results are available. Please if you are fishing, drinking, or swimming in this creek, cease doing so until we have a firm grasp on the causes of this kill and the potential harm to human health. Your Savannah Riverkeeper,
Tonya Bonitatibus
|  Do you have information:
If you have information about this case, please call us at
706 826-8991
or e-mail us |
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What we know right now:1. Thousands of fish have been counted dead, count is still ongoing. Fish of all sizes and many species have died, snakes have been reported dead.
2. Land owners noticed the black water creek starting to turn clear on Friday. Thursday it was milk chocolate colored, also not normal.
3. Saturday land owners noticed the fish starting to die off
4. There are 4 kaolin mines with discharge permits within the suspected fish kill origination zone. A kaolin mine is the suspected cause of the fish kill.
5. Waynesboro has ceased its drinking water intake from Brier Creek
6. EPD currently has reason to suspect Aluminum Sulfate as the cause of the kill. Our independent investigation supports that theory.
7. GA Environmental Protection Division has an active investigation, no formally announced enforcement action.
8. We urge precautionary methods of interaction with the creek. Those with shallow wells along the creek might consider bottled water until results are available.
10. initial reports of a truck spill being responsible have been ruled out as the cause of the kill |
Additional stories were in the works when this was distributed. Links above should lead to additional stories.
Brier creek (below) is usually black making it very difficult to see through. The clarity of this waterway is indicative of a problem and hints to the possibility of an additive that causes settling being introduced to the creek. The color has begun to return.
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Next Steps:It seems that the fish kill has ended. EPD has been on-site collecting samples and hasn't witnessed fish continuing to die.
Key question still remain:
1. Who is responsible- we are getting closer, but a direct discharge has not been released to the public yet?
2. What will the repercussions of causing such a devastating loss of life and recreations be for those responsible?
3. What steps will be taken to ensure that this does not happen again?
We hope you will consider joining us at the public meeting at the Keysville, Ga town hall on Oct. 27th, 3 pm to discuss this kill and the steps forward towards recovery for the area. |
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