Tenn. sewage leak stopped after more than 10,000 fish killed

A closed-off boat ramp at McKellar Lake, where state officials say a sewage leak has killed thousands of fish. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

Officials in Tennessee say a sewage leak that led to a major fish kill and high levels of E.coli bacteria in a creek and a lake has been stopped.

Ursula Madden, a city of Memphis spokeswoman, said Thursday that a bypass has been installed on a sewage line that broke March 31. The break sent 50 million gallons of untreated wastewater per day into Cypress Creek and McKellar Lake, which flows into the Mississippi River.

Officials say the creek and lake are not a drinking water source, but they are warning people to avoid touching or fishing in the waters in both places. Officials say no one has reported health problems related to the leak.

State environmental officials say more than 10,000 dead fish have been documented.