Alapahoochee fishkill tied to Lake Park farm

By Jo Ross

A Lake Park, Ga. company has been blamed for a fishkill in Long Branch near the Alapahoochee River, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) documents show.

The kill occurred north of the Georgia State Road 135 (Hamilton County Road 141) bridge, on the north side of the Florida-Georgia border. Investigators found sunfish, suckers, bass and catfish, as well as vegetation, dead in the area. The Alapahoochee River connects with the Alapaha River and runs from Georgia into Hamilton County.

According to DNR Environmental Specialist Jay Howell, a site inspection was conducted on July 8. Upon tracking upstream to locate the source of the fishkill, DNR officials determined the location of a possible source of pollutant(s).

The investigation found signs of a discharge which appears to have emanated from a partially opened flush valve on a property leased by Coggins Farms and Produce, Inc. of Lake Park, according to DNR reports. The soil at this site had recently been treated with a sub-surface chemigation treatment of a fumigant known as Vapam (Metcam CLR 42%). According to the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this chemical, it “is toxic to fish and will damage or destroy all plant foliage and established plants growing on the treatment site.”

Howell observed dead vegetation leading south from the flush valve toward Long Branch, said the report. He stated that several rainfall events have occurred in this area during the time of the contamination and this could have spread the transport of the chemical to Long Branch.

A follow-up visit to the site revealed that fish were again bedding and swimming in the area, said DNR. The effects of Vapam, while initially devastating, are short term and the chemical itself dissipates quickly upon contact.

A representative of Georgia DNR urged any resident of the immediate area with concerns to contact their local public health department if they feel the discharge may have an impact on them. They do say, however, that the incident appears to be unintentional and do not believe any immediate dangers remain. According to Jodi Conway of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DEP runs ambient water qualities throughout the state at various times of the year and are available to repeat tests upon request.

Hamilton County Division of Emergency Management, contacted by Jasper News on July 29, said they had not received a report of this occurrence. They are now making inquiries into the matter, and encourage anyone with information of this nature in the future to contact their office immediately.

As the serene Alapahoochee River runs across the state boundary and into Florida, private residents are the primary landowners on the west bank.

Property on the east bank is mostly owned by Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD).

Holly Stalvey, communications coordinator for SRWMD who first learned of the toxic spill and subsequent fishkill from the Jasper News, said no one at SRWMD had information regarding the spill.

Stalvey referred the News to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Regional Fisheries Administrator Allen Martin. According to Martin, Florida Department of Environmental Protection had notified their office and informed them of Georgia Department of Natural Resources investigation.

According to Martin, there is no apparent residual damage from the spill now affecting Florida.

Fish that were killed in Georgia did wash downstream, but the Vapam should have dissipated before reaching Hamilton County.

State and local authorities continue to monitor the situation.

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