PALMYRA, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Something stinks in Palmyra, and the smell is coming from dead Carp lying in an open field.
"They've been down there fore a couple of weeks and it’s just starting to warm up and smell,” said Roy Batty who lives near the field.
The state Department of Natural Resources knew about this dumping ground. It's part of a program to get rid of carp in Utah Lake.
The fisherman doing the state's job dumps the fish on Richard Davis' land. The carp acts as a fertilizer.
But Davis was supposed to till the land so that it doesn't stink up the place.
Davis wasn't happy when ABC 4 News approached him.
"It's not any of your business,” Davis said. “It’s none of your damn business.”
But the field wasn't plowed and the smell was evident.
"Usually nothing gets done down here unless you put pressure on them,” said Batty. “They'd let them stink forever if you let them."
ABC4 News contacted an official who oversees the carp removal project. He came out to see for himself.
"I appreciate you bringing it to my attention because we had no idea,” said Mike Mills of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. “No one's complained to us at all."
Mills said it wasn't their intention for this to happen and he was already notifying those involved with the stinky mess.
"I've already been in contact with our fisherman,” he said. “He's aware and they're going to come over and clean it up as soon as they can.
Mills said he hopes the stinky problem doesn’t give a bad light to the carp removal program.
“We’re doing good things for the lake,” he said. “But we’re also concerned with the neighbors down here.”