A CHRONOLOGY OF FISH KILLS ON THE KISHWAUKEE RIVER

Sept. 1. 1954 The exact source of the pollutant was not known, although reports indicate that the tile discharging into the river just south of the Taylor Street bridge in DeKalb was where the pollutant entered. A four mile stretch of the river was affected, but the number of fish killed was unknown.

Sept. 3. 1956 Exact source of pollutant was unknown. Affected area was restricted to Huber Park in DeKalb. Number of fish killed; unknown.

Aug. 15. 1960 Exact source of pollutant was unknown. Affected was an area around Park Place Golf Course (now River Heights G.C.). Number of fish killed was undetermined.

Mar. 21. 1968 The cause of the fish kill was determined to be from an oil spill of unknown origins. 14.5 miles of the river was affected from just below Motel Road (west of Sycamore) to 300 yards downstream of the bridge at Base Line Road (2.5 miles south of Genoa). An estimated 17, 358 fish were destroyed totaling $3,088 in damages. The kill was not reported for three or four days making it impossible to find the exact source.

Sept. 11. 1969 Again, a delay in reporting the fish kill made locating the exact source for the kill impossible. The field tile south of the Taylor Street bridge was once again the suspected location of the pollutant’s entry. 2.3 miles of the river was affected; number of fish killed was 12,626.

Sept. 24. 1969 Exact cause: unknown. Area affected: from Fairview Road to Taylor Street in DeKalb. Number of fish killed: Unknown May 4. 1971 Exact cause: unknown. The affected area was from just west of Five Points Road in Kingston to a point 3 miles downstream. An estimated 6,683 fish were killed valued at $971.60.

Sept. 24. 1971 Although the exact source of the fish kill was unknown, the Taylor Street Tile was again identified as the point of entry of the pollutant. The fish kill was limited to Huber Park where an estimated 96 fish were destroyed.

Oct. 6. 1971 Exact cause was again unknown. Affected area was a 1/2 mile section running from Roosevelt Street to Lucinda Avenue in DeKalb. Estimated number of fish killed; 11,661 valued at $352.84.

Dec. 10. 1971 The source was once again unknown but a large oil slick was very evident. 22.8 miles of the river was affected from Rich Road in DeKalb to Myelle Road near Kirkland. Heavy rains made collection of fish difficult but an estimated 57,671 fish were destroyed — many of them small mouth bass valued at $2,236.

Sept. 8. 1973 Officially, the exact cause was listed as unknown, but it was suspected that aerial spraying of insecticide was responsible. The affected area was 4.5 miles from Gurler Road to Huber Park in DeKalb. 75,864 fish were killed at a value of $8,049.

Sept. 21. 1973 Exact cause was once again unknown. Affected area was a 3.3 mile segment from Gurler Road to Miller Street In DeKalb. Number of fish destroyed; 12,351 valued at $3,198.

Mar. 13. 1974 Spaulding Fibre of DeKalb admitted to EPA officials that an accidental spill of Cresylic Acid had occurred. 28 miles of the river was affected from Fairview Road to Route 72. An estimated total of 25,957 fish were killed at a value of $1,039.

Aug. 22. 1975 Exact cause of fish kill was unknown, but the tile just below Fairview Road in DeKalb was suspected as the source. A five mile segment of the river was affected with 27,588 fish killed at a value of $2,053.

Sept. 26. 1975 Fairview Road was again identified as the point of entry for the pollutant but the source was unknown. 26,799 fish killed at a value of $1,022.

July 11. 1977 Exact cause was unknown. The area affected was Russell Woods Preserve. Number of fish destroyed was unknown.

Aug. 16. 1982 Little information is given on this fish kill which occurred in the city of DeKalb other than there was a long delay in the reporting of the accident and that the investigating officer developed a rash when wading in the river.

Sept. 22. 1984 Evidence gained from samples taken from the Taylor Street Tile in DeKalb indicated the source of pollution was Del Monte. Fish kill took place from Lincoln Highway to north of Lucinda Avenue. A valve on a discharge pipe from Del Monte was welded shut and to date no fish kills have taken place in this area since. An estimated 4,902 fish were destroyed at a value of $719.

Apr. 20. 1988 Employees of Lincoln Land Farm north of Sycamore were working on a retention pond for hog waste when a wall gave in and 2 million gallons of ammonia-laden material spilled into the river. 37.2 miles of the river were affected with more than 70,000 fish valued at over $1 1,000 killed. Investigation is still underway.