City officials have hired independent investigators to help determine what caused thousands of fish to suffocate in the Chattahoochee River last month.
Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management brought in an outside contractor to run a separate probe into the mass fish die-off, focusing on the Peachtree Creek tunnel as a potential source.
The fish kill, which occurred in late May, drew alarm from environmental groups and residents who use the river for recreation. Investigators are examining whether oxygen depletion or contamination from the city's stormwater system contributed to the deaths.
Peachtree Creek flows through Buckhead and West Midtown before joining the Chattahoochee, carrying runoff from a large watershed.
The independent investigation supplements the city's internal review. Results could inform infrastructure improvements or operational changes to prevent future incidents.
The Chattahoochee serves as a drinking water source for millions of Georgians and a recreational resource for the metro area.
