Water Main Break Blamed for Fish Kill

A break in a drinking water main Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids is being blamed for a fish that wiped out dozens of young trout.

Cedar Rapids officials estimated 2,000 gallons of chlorinated water discharged when the water main broke near the intersection of Center Point Road and Center Street Northeast. An unknown amount of water reached McCloud Run trout stream which runs through the city, according to the Iowa Deparment of Natural Resources.

City staff did not find any dead fish during initial checks of the stream. But about 2 p.m. Wednesday, they found 48 dead trout, mostly small fish in the 3- to 4-inch range, the DNR said in a news release.

The amount of chlorinated water released is still unknown, but the city has upgraded the estimate to less than 5,000 gallons.

The department said enforcement action is under consideration.