Chemical spill kills fish in North Georgia creek

Officials are investigating a chemical spill that killed water species in Dawsonville. The spill occurred Tuesday but was discovered two days later.

Officials are investigating a chemical spill that killed water species in Dawsonville. The spill occurred Tuesday but was discovered two days later.

A chemical spill that began two days ago at a food distribution center has killed fish and other water species in a Dawsonville creek, officials said.

The spill at Gold Creek Foods occurred Tuesday, but it was not discovered until Thursday afternoon, Dawson County government officials said in a Facebook post. The chemicals traveled through the storm water drain to Flat Creek. Details on what led to the spill were not released.

“City representatives are on scene with regulatory agencies, as the area affected is in the city limits,” read the post.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ environmental protection division and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency were called to the scene to investigate. Dawson County Emergency Services are on standby with resources if needed and hazmat teams have been notified of the spill, county officials said.

“It is critical that those not involved with investigating the incident stay away from the scene so as to not interfere with the mitigation process,” officials said in the post.

Robinson Elementary School, which is located behind Gold Creek Foods, was cleared to open, but recess must be held indoors Friday, the Dawson County School System said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reached out to Gold Creek Foods for a comment.

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