BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

NORTH LAWRENCE -- North Country Dairy officials say they are in close communication with the Department of Environmental Conservation and local council members as they attempt to identify the root cause of contamination in the Deer River.

The dairy plant has been under scrutiny in recent months after county Legislator John Gennett and a number of residents along the river vocalized their concerns about contamination in the river that has killed fish and other wildlife over multiple miles of the river.

In a press release sent to NCTW, North County Dairy officials say they are aware of the recent concerns regarding the water conditions within the proximity of the plant.

"We join in that concern, as the health of our shared environment is incredibly important to us—not just as a company, but as individuals who live and work here, raise our families here, and care deeply about this community," officials said.

They went on further, saying they were in close communication with community members, local council members and the DEC about the issue.

"As a highly regulated facility, we strive to operate our plant in a way that not only complies with recommended practices but exceeds them. We are collaborating with the DEC in its ongoing investigation while continuing an internal review of our operations to ensure they meet our high expectations and all applicable regulatory requirements," officials said.

Officials say they are eager to understand the root cause of the problem and "once known, come together to find a solution to protect our shared environment."

"We are committed to transparency throughout this process and will continue to keep the public updated as our collective review progresses," they said.

Department of Environmental Conservation officials recently said they have identified the contamination in the Deer River but have yet to determine the cause.

According to a DEC spokesperson, the department continues to investigate the growth found in the Deer River and downstream of the hamlet of North Lawrence.

According to officials, recent samples of the material have determined the growth to be primarily Leptomitus lacteus, “a filamentous microorganism similar to a fungus.”

“Dense growth like what was found in the river is typically an indicator of high nutrients and organic material in the water. Additional factors such as changes in temperature and other water quality parameters may also affect its growth,” officials say.

According to the spokesperson, additional targeted water quality sampling is being conducted to determine the next steps and officials will continue to keep the community informed as the investigation continues.

County officials raised the alarm last month after numerous residents in Brasher, North Lawrence and the surrounding area complained of an increasingly foul stench, dead fish and lack of wildlife over a large stretch along the river.

St. Lawrence County Legislator John Gennett, who represents the Brasher and North Lawrence area, said he has had numerous constituents come to him about the water quality and the impact on aquatic life in recent weeks.

"If you want to see some hairy rocks, come to the Deer River," he said at the legislature’s May 6 full board meeting.

"There are no fish left in the Deer River, nothing," he said.

The contamination has also drawn the ire of local fishing promoter Don Meissner, who called the Deer River a “hidden gem” of the north country.

Meissner said he has also been in touch with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

"They said they would start their research to sort out what the cause of the contamination is," he said.

Meissner said the "white globules floating down the river" are "extraordinarily alarming."