DNR: No Cause Concern Over Brown Scum on Wapsipinicon River

by Jeff Raasch

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 8, 2010 at 9:42 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 8, 2010 at 9:43 AM CST

OLIN, Iowa - Brown scum and bubbles were found on a 20-mile stretch of the Wapsipinicon River over the Labor Day weekend, but officials said it is no cause for concern.

A conservation officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources followed the foamy substance from Olin nearly to Central City on Sunday, DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins said. The officer had received “numerous” reports of what looked like a manure spill.

But no evidence of manure or other chemicals in the river, including odor or dead fish, was ever found, officials said.

Amber Sauser, an environmental specialist with the DNR, said the scum was determined to be natural organic material. She said several tests on the river returned no ammonia. She saw no signs of manure discharge in tributaries between Central City and Anamosa.

Sauser said algae in the river dies this time of year and leaves start to fall, which breaks up the surface tension of the water. Bubbles often form, and on windy days, they can be pushed together and along shorelines.

“If there would have been a manure spill of that magnitude, something would have died,” Sauser said. “It had every single indication of just natural this-time-of-year foam.”

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