Fish Kill in Chattahoochee River Sparks Investigation After May Storm

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

A significant fish kill in the Chattahoochee River has prompted a joint investigation by the City of Atlanta and state environmental agencies, with officials pointing to severe storm runoff from May 20 as the likely trigger.

Residents along the river south of Peachtree Creek began reporting dead fish on the morning of May 21 — bloated carcasses of bream, catfish, and shad collecting along muddy banks and pooling in shallow eddies. By midday, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources had dispatched field teams to collect water samples and document the extent of the die-off.

Flash Flooding Swamps Atlanta Interstates, Prompts Water Rescues

Wed, 20 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400

A line of intense thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across metro Atlanta on Tuesday, triggering flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service and turning major interstates into rivers of standing water that stranded motorists and forced emergency crews into action.

Roads Underwater Across the Metro

The downpours struck during the afternoon commute, overwhelming drainage infrastructure across the city. Multiple segments of I-75, I-85, and I-285 reported significant standing water, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing the Georgia Department of Transportation to close lanes in several locations.

Stormwater on WACN 21 News

Fish Kill in Chattahoochee River Sparks Investigation After May Storm

Flash Flooding Swamps Atlanta Interstates, Prompts Water Rescues

Roads Underwater Across the Metro