IOWA - Iowa's Natural Resources Department is investigating several spills into waterways this week, including milk shake ingredients.
Unusual milk-colored water along a popular walking and biking path in Mason City was traced to milk shake ingredients from a McDonald’s distribution center.
Field tests found the water was not a threat to children or pets in contact with the water.
The department is also looking into manure spills in Lyon and Kossuth counties that killed large numbers of fish.
In both cases, large amounts of manure were spilled into waterways.
Rock Bottom Dairy near Rock Rapids in Lyon County reported spilling several hundred thousand gallons of manure that flowed into Mud Creek.
Commercial manure company Precision Pumping said an equipment malfunction led 10,000 gallons of manure spilling into a creek that lows into the East Fork of the Des Moines River.
Both businesses are involved in cleanup efforts from the spills.