UPDATED August 11: State environmental officials say it’s okay again to enter the water in Tinker Creek. The Department of Environmental Quality has lifted the ban on recreational activities, one put in place after that herbicide spill two weekends ago. The DEQ says water samples taken downstream this week show no evidence of the spilled chemical.
From the DEQ: The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality have updated the information available on the status of Tinker Creek in Botetourt County following a fish kill on July 29. On Monday, August 7th, DEQ water monitoring staff collected additional water samples from Tinker Creek. Sampling locations ranged from the vicinity of the spill downstream to the Route 24 bridge across Tinker Creek near the confluence with the Roanoke River. Water samples were analyzed by the Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Results showed no evidence of the spilled chemical, Termix 5301. Based upon the results of this latest round of water samples, the Virginia Department of Health is lifting the ban on recreational activities in Tinker Creek. For information on safe swimming in recreational waters please visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.
PREVIOUSLY: State environmental officials have determined that last weekend’s herbicide spill into Tinker Creek killed about 40,000 fish. That makes it one of the biggest recorded fish kills in Virginia history. It is still unclear how the container holding the chemical was punctured. The latest from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
