—
DEEP CREEK LAKE — The mysterious deaths of hundreds of fish in Deep Creek Lake have prompted an investigation by state environmental officials and a warning to lakegoers to avoid all contact with fish carcasses.
As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 200 fish had been found dead in and around the lake, in what Maryland Department of the Environment spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus called “a localized, sustained fish kill.”
“At this time, no evidence suggests a threat to human health; however, visitors and residents are advised to avoid touching, swimming with, or coming into close proximity to any dead fish,” MDE officials stated in a news release.
Stoltzfus said the first dead fish began appearing Saturday.
The cause and exact location of the fish kill is still unknown. It appears to have occurred in the deepest part of the lake, Stoltzfus said, because most of the dead fish have been large adults. Shallower waters do not seem to be affected, at this point.
Many fish have washed up on the beach in the Green Glade Cove area, but that could be due to the direction the wind blows off the lake.
“Where they’re ending up isn’t necessarily where the fish kill is happening,” she said.
The majority of the dead fish have been yellow perch, but walleye, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, bluegill, chain pickerel, Northern pike and crayfish carcasses have also been found.
MDE and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have launched an investigation into the cause of the fish kill. Investigators will conduct water quality, carcass and fish feces testing, and a diagnostic analysis of affected species.
On July 11, an electrical malfunction at a pump station caused 42,000 gallons of sewage to overflow along the shore of the lake, near the intersection of U.S. Route 219 and Lake Shore Drive. But Stoltzfus said investigators have not yet found evidence that points to any specific cause for the fish kill, including the sewage spill.
Fish kills are a very unusual occurrence at Deep Creek Lake. MDE only has record of one other such incident, in 2004, in which an individual reported 78 dead yellow perch. When investigators arrived at the lake, they did not find any fish carcasses or any evidence that pointed to a cause for a fish kill.
People who find dead fish in the lake area or have information about anything that could have contributed to the ongoing incident should contact MDE at 443-482-2732.
Contact Megan Miller at mmiller@times-news.com.
Local News
Hundreds of dead fish found in Deep Creek Lake
- Local News
-
-
Fire station under construction in Wiley Ford
The Wiley Ford Volunteer Fire Department will have a new station on State Street, diagonally positioned from the old station on Spring Street, by July, according to Mike Miltenberger, president of the fire department.Groundbreaking for the new station occurred in December and footers and blocks have already been laid. -
Higher, Mom!
-
Garrett commissioners to detail ASCI debt, reveal county’s position
OAKLAND — The Garrett County Commission will provide a more detailed review today of Adventure Sports Center International’s debt situation and will make known the county’s position, according to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator.
-
Ban on signs for chicken barbecues could starve Orleans fire company
LITTLE ORLEANS — Like many small volunteer fire departments, the Orleans Volunteer Fire Company depends on chicken barbecues and other fundraisers to keep running calls for fires, traffic accidents and other emergency calls.
-
NewPage Corp. trying to stop inquiry, calling its executives ‘pawns’
CUMBERLAND — A fight is brewing in a Delaware bankruptcy court as NewPage Corp. struggles to protect a number of company executives from depositions related to a long-term bonus plan that could pay some of them hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unsecured creditors have requested depositions of top company officials.
-
Weigh in
-
Firefighters send equipment to Haiti colleagues
HORSESHOE RUN, W.Va. (AP) — Five fire companies showed up to help — not an unusual occurrence.
What was unusual was who they were helping. The volunteers gathered at Mount Grove Volunteer Fire Department to load their excess equipment and supplies to send to fire departments in need — in Haiti. -
State property tax may need to rise to pay back bonds
ANNAPOLIS — If property values don’t start increasing, the state may need to increase property taxes or tap the general fund to pay off its bond debt, legislative analysts told lawmakers.
-
Late filings increase West Virginia primary election candidate pool
KEYSER, W.Va. — More than 100 mailed-in filings have increased the unofficial roster of West Virginia’s 2012 candidates, according to The Associated Press.
The filing deadline was midnight Jan. 28. State election officials said the additional filings were postmarked by then. -
W.Va. Senate approves texting bill
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia drivers could get a ticket for texting or talking on their cellphone while driving under a bill the Senate unanimously approved Monday.
The bill now heads to the House of Delegates, which is considering its own measure to curb distracted driving on West Virginia’s roads. - More Local News Headlines
-
