Chemical spill kills more than 40,000 fish in Tinker Creek

Botetourt County – The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality say last weekend's chemical spill into Tinker creek has killed 40,198 fish.

This includes sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, darters, multiple species of minnow, bullhead catfish, and suckers.  Officials say there have been a few larger fish kills in Virginia, but this is considered a significant incident.

Water tests results have been analyzed and show a very low amount of the chemical Termix 5301 in the creek. This amount is not considered harmful.

Additional water samples will be collected on Monday and results are expected later in the week.  A decision will be made then as to whether the advisory on Tinker Creek should remain.  The agencies continue to recommend that people stay away from the creek from just west of Rte.11/Lee Highway, across the Southern States Cooperative in Cloverdale, downstream to the mouth of Tinker Creek a the Roanoke River.

State officials say Crop Production Services, the company responsible for the spill continues to cooperate with DEQ and has taken action to address the fish kill.