[Mike]

Authorities continued testing the water in Menifee Lake Friday after thousands of dead fish have been seen floating since last weekend. Menifee city officials first heard reports Saturday of floating fish at the lake, which is located on private property about a half-mile east of the 215 Freeway.

Since Menifee Lake is not on public land, state and local agencies do not regulate or manage the waters, according to KCAL 9’s Tom Wait. According to a state official, one possible theory is that chlorine leaked into the lake after a nearby pool was acid-washed and re-chlorinated.

Seasonal algae blooms that produce a deadly neurotoxin have been blamed by officials for similar “fish kills” in Agoura Hills and Redondo Beach.

A representative with the Menifee Lakes Master Association, which owns the property, said they are testing the waters for deadly chemicals, but so far, the results are inconclusive.

Resident Lisa Quick said it’s not just fish that have died – birds have been victims as well. “The baby ducks that have just been born…it’s just been really hard to watch and hard to see,” Quick said.

Biohazard name: Mass. Die-off (fishes)
Biohazard level: 2/4 Medium

Biohazard desc.: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. “Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures”, see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents.

Symptoms:
Status: confirmed