FRANKLINVILLE, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has ordered Great Lakes Cheese in Franklinville to immediately address environmental damage caused by the discharge of organic waste into Ischua Creek.

The company has paused operations at its discharge outfall following reports of pollution and a large fish die-off.

DEC officials said tens of thousands of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other aquatic species have been killed in the Cattaraugus County creek, prompting an ongoing investigation. Reports earlier this week described "visible effluent discharge and odors from the facility’s outfall to the creek," according to a DEC statement issued Friday evening.

"Ischua Creek is a vibrant, healthy ecosystem and the environmental damage witnessed this week is

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