‘In the wake of a near-total fish kill, southwest Iowans wade into water testing’

In March 2024, a valve malfunction at a NEW Cooperative facility spilled roughly 1,500 tons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer into the East Nishnabotna River near Red Oak, Iowa, causing one of the state’s largest fish kills—an estimated 800,000 fish along 60 miles of river, along with mussels, frogs, and snakes.

In response, local residents formed the Nishnabotna Water Defenders in 2025, training volunteers to test water for nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH. Some readings, like nearly 20 mg/L of nitrates this summer, exceed safe federal limits for drinking water, raising health concerns. The group emphasizes that citizen monitoring is essential as state-funded real-time sensors face uncertain future support.