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Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited To conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries Fish kill cause: fecal matter (Saturday, September 09, 2006) By Ken Kolker The Grand Rapids Press BOWNE TOWNSHIP -- The state now says a fish kill that wiped out as many as 2,000 brown trout in Tyler Creek was caused by heavy concentrations of fecal matter. The decision, based on a newly released study, reverses an earlier statement that the die-off was due to naturally occurring conditions. State officials narrowed down the source of the fecal matter -- it flowed from an area near Freeport Avenue -- but don't know if it came from farm animal waste or human waste from home septic tanks, or a combination of the two.They hope to plant trout fingerlings in the river this fall but said it will take four years for the fishing spot to fully recover. Dead trout, ranging from 3 to 20 inches, were found floating in Tyler Creek on July 28 -- along Freeport Avenue between 76th and 84th streets SE. The creek feeds into Coldwater River, popular among anglers. The state estimated damages at $100,000. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials at first reported the kill likely was natural -- that a recent heat wave and heavy rain the night before depleted oxygen levels in the water, killing the fish. However, Department of Natural Resources officials say a miscommunication led to that inaccurate report. DEQ spokesman Robert McCann said his agency released the original report before tests were completed on the fish. A 2-inch rainfall washed fecal matter into the creek, said Jay Wesley, manager of the DNR fisheries division in Plainwell. A Michigan State University study dated Sept. 1 found high levels of fecal matter in the fish's gills. " I wouldn't call it a natural kill," Wesley said. "There were several other watersheds and tributaries in the same area that experienced the same weather that did not have a kill." Fecal matter can kill fish because of high levels of ammonia. It clogs gills and depletes oxygen from water. Tyler Creek has a history of E. coli contamination, which indicates fecal matter, but nothing ever high enough to kill the fish, Wesley said. " There are a few farms up there, but no evidence to prosecute anyone in this case," Wesley said. With enough evidence, the state could have sought restitution, he said. At first, some thought Swisslane Farms, a large dairy farm, could have caused the kill, but an investigation showed a dry creek bed separated the farm's manure from the creek, state officials said. The state has worked with area farmers to reduce run-off from liquid manure, which is used as fertilizer, making sure they don't spread it if heavy rain is in the forecast, and that they don't get too close to the creek, Wesley said.