The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a stream advisory for Bear Creek and an unnamed tributary west of Bear Creek near the City of Peru.

 

The location of the advisory is between Road 21 and Highway 166 about two miles west of Peru.

The advisory was issued due to storm water runoff from a sulfur stockpile entering the unnamed tributary and lowering pH levels significantly as well as liberating a variety of metals at high concentrations. KDHE is currently working with the landowner to mitigate the contamination and address the source problem.

 

Contaminants may be present in the waters of Bear Creak and tributary and K-D-H-E advises residents to stay away from the waterways until the streams can be deemed safe.