ATLANTA — A textile firm must spend $1 million on improvement projects in the Ogeechee River watershed to settle pollution violations that were discovered as officials investigated the sudden deaths of nearly 39,000 fish.

King America Finishing, Inc. agreed to the deal Wednesday as part of an agreement with environmental officials over a May 20 fish kill downstream from the plant.

The agreement says the exact cause of the fish kill in Screven County may never be known. Testing shows the fish died of a bacterial infection. Officials say factors including low river flows, warm temperatures and chemical pollution may have weakened the fish.

State officials say the company ceased operations after inspectors identified chemical discharges into the river.

Company officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment.