OIL SPILL: Clean Up On North Raccoon River

The environmental protection agency is investigating what may be one of the largest oil spills in Iowa history.  The Department of Natural Resources says about 15 miles of the North Raccoon River near Jefferson is affected.

Authorities traced the oil back to Krieger’s Greenhouse in Jefferson.

They believe a valve on an oil storage tank malfunctioned causing the oil to leak into a ravine, leading to the river.

The DNR says it has spotted some waterfowl coated with oil, but no birds or fish have died as a result of the spill.

About 85-percent of the spill is cleaned up, but it could be more than a week before clean-up is complete.

The DNR is advising canoers, fishermen and even hikers to stay out of the area.