Fish killed by Shoal Creek spill piles up at dam, City of Austin says already cleaned up
AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Watershed Protection said it is returning spill investigators to Shoal Creek after being notified that cleanup crews lost hundreds of dead fish at the nearby dam.
Earlier this week, viewers sent pictures of the creek to KXAN, which showed the vacant eyes of dead fish staring out of the murky, green water.
AWP said the dead fish and unusual water appearance were caused by a major water leak that poured potable water and chlorine into Shoal Creek.
Austin Creek goes green and it’s not for St. Patrick’s Day
Originally, AWP said crews found only 30 fish were killed by the leak, but later changed that estimate to more than 300.
Shoal Creek spill kills more fish than originally thought
AWP said crews would clear the creek of dead fish on Saturday and Sunday.
A spokesman confirmed crews had gone out on Saturday and cleaned only fish found in the water on Hancock Drive.
Despite that, most of the dead fish were found sitting in a dam about two blocks from where crews had cleaned up and were there Saturday night.
AWP was notified by KXAN of the hundreds of dead fish at the dam and said it would send investigators back to the area within 24 hours to figure out how to proceed.
People who live along the creek say they are frustrated that dead fish are still in the creek and worry about the future of the area’s wildlife.
“We love nature. We love seeing the snakes, seeing the animals that come down here, and fishing. And if you look at the water right now, you can see it’s lifeless,” said Matt Franks.
