Algae killing fish in Texas – 03/17/2004

  • September 30, 2013 at 3:09 am #372
    Mike
    Keymaster

    http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D81BV93O0.html
    03/17/2004
    Associated Press

    Fisheries biologists in Oklahoma and Texas are concerned about the
    deaths of a half-million fish in Lake Texoma.

    The largest number of fish killed were threadfin, but largemouth
    bass, crappie and bluegill also were among those found dead in a five-
    mile area between Cedar Mills and Highport Marina on the Texas side
    of the lake.

    Texas officials found the fish on Friday but the outbreak is believed
    to have begun March 6.

    Golden algae is being blamed for the fish kill. There is no evidence
    that the toxins are harmful to humans, officials said.

    Fisheries biologists will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon
    to discuss the investigation at the University of Oklahoma Biological
    Research Station in Willis.

    The 89,000-acre reservoir on the Texas-Oklahoma border has been
    monitored for the possible spread of golden algae since a fish kill
    in January in the Lebanon pool of upper Lake Texoma was traced to the
    toxin.

    Since 2001, golden algae fish kills have occurred on 23 reservoirs in
    Texas and the toxin has been linked to subsequent fish kills in North
    Carolina, South Carolina and New Mexico.

    Lake Texoma is the first reported finding in the Red River basin
    downstream of Lake Kemp, which is southwest of Wichita Falls, Texas.

    Golden algae blooms typically occur in winter and often leave a
    golden ring around the lake shoreline.

    “This fish kill is of particular concern due to the fact that it took
    place in the main body of the lake, while the first kill was in the
    more isolated Lebanon Pool,” said Paul Mauck, south-central region
    fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
    Conservation.

    “When the algae blooms it kills fish by releasing toxins into the
    water that cause fish gills to hemorrhage. The good news is that
    there is no evidence to suggest the toxins are a threat to human
    health.”

    Anglers who observe fish dying in Lake Texoma can contact Paul Mauck
    at (580) 924-4087, or the state Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
    Fisheries Division, (405) 521-3721.

    Information from: The Daily Ardmoreite, http://www.ardmoreite.com
    (bill/boston)

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