A Fish Kill occurred at Radium Springs in late September, according to Flint Riverkeeper. The nonprofit released a statement through their social media on September 16 explaining the scope and cause of the damage.
We were saddened to learn from GA DNR, and then confirmed by our staff, that a fish kill has occurred at Radium Springs. GA DNR reports low spring flow and very low levels of dissolved oxygen, a natural consequence of low flow.
Flint Riverkeeper, in cooperation with farmers, resource managers, academicians, and Dougherty Co. officials, is working diligently to restore flow at Radium Springs by minimizing the impact of withdrawals from the Floridan Aquifer during dry periods. The Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District, in particular, has made significant progress with farmers in the Radium Springs spring shed. Since 2022, the District has been using private and federal funds to update irrigation equipment on over 1,800 acres in the spring shed, on average improving the efficiency of the irrigation systems by 35 percent, real water savings realized at the spring has been updated. Pending release of additional federal funds, a project to develop alternative sources of water for agriculture during dry periods will be initiated.
The work would be greatly advanced by industrial users like Proctor and Gamble joining directly in the conservation efforts. (Flint Riverkeeper)
Flint Riverkeeper is a local nonprofit whose mission is to restore and preserve the habitat, water quality, and flow of the Flint River for the benefit of both people and wildlife.