Herbicide Might Be Culprit in Jones County, Ga., Fish Kill

Aug. 2–The fish in a Jones County pond were killed during the weekend, apparently by herbicides, leaving the owner with a potentially contaminated well.

State agriculture officials took water samples at the pond Monday to try to trace the type of chemical back to its source, said Cory Stern, who owns the pond on U.S. 18 West near Dame’s Ferry Elementary School. He was told results would take about three weeks.

“It shocked everybody. Even my neighbors came to look,” said Stern, who allowed neighbors’ children to fish in the pond for bass, blue gill and catfish.

Stern said a pipe drains from under the highway to his pond. Both the state Department of Transportation and a power company had sprayed herbicides in the days just before the fish kill.

Stern first noticed the dead fish Sunday morning along with a strange smell, a blue-green sheen on top of the water, and dying lily pads.

Joseph Hays, environmental specialist for the state Environmental Protection Division, said he saw 60 fish lying on the bank or floating in the water of the half-acre pond Monday. Herbicide was probably the culprit, he said.

Hays said he recommended that Stern not eat any fish from the pond and have the health department test his well, which is near the pond.

Stern said he’s afraid to eat the fish and wants to know how long they’ll be contaminated.

“And if it’s in the well, (whoever is responsible) has bought it,” he said.

Patricia Kitchens, who runs the Macon EPD office, said once the responsible party is found, the EPD might issue a fine.

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