[Mike]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/080405_local_fish.html

Millions of dead fish washing up on local coast

Literally millions of dead fish are lining the coast in Matagorda and
it’s causing a smelly problem.
By Laura Whitley
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(8/04/05 – MATAGORDA CO., TX) — Miles and miles of dead fish are
turning up in Texas waters and it’s hitting Matagorda especially
hard.

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From the sky, a sea of white is covering the mouth of the Colorado
River. Upon closer look, you’ll see dead fish – millions of them.
“Unbelievable if you haven’t seen it before,” said Matagorda County
Commissioner George Deshotel.

The stunning images of devastation run for miles. It’s one of the
largest fish kills people in the town of Matagorda have seen in
years.

Ronnie Dodd runs a spring bridge and watched dozens of fish die from
his perch.

“The flounder were trying to get to the side of the edge of the bank
and trying to come up and get air,” he told us.

Surprisingly, this is a natural event caused by stagnant water and
little wind, rain, or flow.

“Millions of these menhaden come in from the Gulf into the Colorado
River and because of low tidal action and low wind action, there’s
nothing to replenish the oxygen in the water,” said Deshotel.

Texas Parks and Wildlife is closely monitoring the situation.

“It’ll run its course, and when it’s done, it’s done,” said Bill
Balboa with Texas Parks and Wildlife. “It may happen again, but it
happens all up and down the coast.”

But for now, Matagoda is the worst place…a place with a community
that depends on the fish that are quickly dying.

The fish began dying a few days ago. If the menhaden keep coming in
and the conditions don’t change, more can die. And that’s not good
news for the local economy.

Back in 1995, there was a similar situation. Then, 60 million fish
turned up dead. If you see dead dish, shrimp or crabs, contact the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s 24-hour hotline. That number is
512-389-4848.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)