Substance In DeKalb’s Hickman Creek Being Tested After Several Dead Fish

DeKalb County Emergency Management urges residents to avoid the Hickman Creek area as an unknown substance in the water has killed several fish.

EMA Director Charles Parker said officials from TWRA and the federal Environmental Protection Agency have been testing samples throughout the week.

“TWRA has been on the scene documenting the situation and doing a fish count,” Parker said. “They’re not doing an active cleanup at this point. They are trying to identify the source.”

Parker said the wildlife office was first notified of the dead fish over the weekend. Parker said a sheen on the water was found and is suspected to be the cause of death.

“It’s definitely not something we see very often,” Parker said. “At this point, we do not know exactly what it is.”

Parker said the substance has been contained to the area near Edgewood Street in Alexandria. However, Parker said the waterway runs all the way to the Smith County line, so the material could have floated down stream.

“The fish were scattered along the creek down through there,” Parker said. “They are not pooled in just one spot. I don’t have an exact number, but several fish along Hickman Creek.”

Parker said from his communications, Smith County will likely send out the same message to avoid the water. Fishing, drinking, playing or swimming in the creek is discouraged.