December 11, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Four months after an investigation into what caused a fish kill in Hickman Creek at Alexandria, the US Environmental Protection Agency has wrapped up its response activities there concluding that “the source of the impaired conditions was a seep of contaminated groundwater coming from the bank” but that “recent water samples show that the water quality of the groundwater flowing into the creek has significantly improved”
The EPA released a public notice on the findings Friday but may have left some questions in the minds of the public yet unanswered.
Although the investigation evaluated infrastructure near the creek and a drainage line at a nearby manufacturing facility, the EPA did not identify that as the reason for the problem in the public notice nor specify the substance that caused the contamination.
The public notice states as follows:
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the source of impaired conditions in Hickman Creek was a seep of contaminated groundwater coming from the bank. On August 7, 2021, a discharge of unknown material resulted in a fish kill in Hickman Creek. It was estimated at the time that there were 2,000 dead fish and crustaceans in a 1 to 1.5-mile segment of the creek. Low levels of dissolved oxygen were found along with black, grey, and brown discolored water”.
“EPA initiated a response action that included aeration of water in Hickman Creek and collection of groundwater from a sump that was installed to intercept the seep before it reached the creek. From August through November, approximately 400,000 gallons of groundwater was removed and transported to a specialized wastewater treatment facility. EPA also began an investigation into the potential source and content of the release into Hickman Creek as well as an assessment of the impacts and extent downstream. The investigation evaluated infrastructure near the creek and a drainage line at a nearby manufacturing facility. EPA and its contractors collected several water samples for laboratory analysis. Recent water samples show that the water quality of the groundwater flowing into the creek has significantly improved. Based on these results, the EPA On-Scene Coordinator, in consultation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), determined that the EPA’s operations to remove groundwater are no longer necessary”
A concerned citizen apparently made the discovery of the dead fish and minnows in the creek on Monday, August 9 and reported it to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency who then contacted the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. What EPA contractors found was an unknown substance seeping into the creek, believed to have contributed to the fish kill, which was coming from the creek bank behind the Alexandria Senior Citizens Center. The affected area of Hickman Creek was located from Edgewood Street in Alexandria, approximately one and a half mile downstream to the Highway 53 Bridge. A staging area was established there with a sump well which was dug to catch and contain the substance before any more of it could get into the creek.
Representatives on site during the response activities included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), EPA contractors, the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation (TDEC), the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), DeKalb County Emergency Management, and the Town of Alexandria and representatives.