A paper mill in Temple, La. came forward Aug. 17, to formally admit what many had already suspected, that their plant was responsible for thousands of dead fish in Louisiana's Pearl River.
According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the plant spilled something called mill effluent into the river, unintentionally, which created a chemical reaction that robbed the water of oxygen, and killed thousands of fish. State biologists are still testing the water to find out if there could possibly be any lasting effects, although they reported the river has already started to recover. The dying fish were reported Saturday morning. Catfish, turtles, mussels and eels were among the affected species.
The company, Bogalusa Paper Mill, will be forced to pay restitution for its destruction of the fish, deemed a public resource. – Rick Bach
A great white shark hasn't been seen here in six years, but a fisherman caught one this summer and it's got residents excited.
