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Virginia Biologists Investigating Shenandoah River Fish Kill
#1
[font "Arial"]SHENANDOAH VALLEY, VA—Local fisheries biologists have estimated approximately 80 percent of the adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish have died in a more than 100-mile stretch of the South Fork and Mainstream Shenandoah River. [/font]
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#2
Welcome to Bigfishgtackle.com,
Hope you will take a moment to register as a member, we have a great bunch of anglers here and I think you will fit right in.

I am always suspicious when it comes to fish kills, although natural disasters can and
do happen, I always keep a vidulent eye on comercial dumpings in the area. in this case I would be alarmed to see any fertilizer truck with a hose in a drain or ditch or river or pond.

fish are just like any other animal on the planet we breath our environments, we absorb through our skin minute particals of our environment weather it be air water or toxins.

here is the full report, I hope it helps.


[font "Arial"][size 5]For Immediate Release[/size][/font]
July 25, 2005 [font "Arial"][size 5]Contact[/size][/font]
Steve Reeser, 540-248-9360
SHENANDOAH RIVER FISH KILL INVESTIGATION UPDATE

Shenandoah Valley, VA — A persistent fish kill has severely reduced the adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish population in over 100 miles of the South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah River. Fisheries biologists estimate that 80% of the adult smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish have died as a result of this fish kill. A more precise estimate on the fish loss will be made this fall as agency personnel compare population numbers with historic data from previous years. Impacts on other fish species in the river appear to be minimal. The good news is that young smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish have not been affected by this episode.

Fish began exhibiting bacterial lesions (sores) and dying in late April following significant rain events. The majority of the fish mortalities occurred in the following weeks. The bacterial lesions were a "secondary" effect. The lesions on the fish have been associated with natural bacteria found in the river, but the underlying cause appears to be an unidentified stressor, which compromises the fish's resistance and make them susceptible to bacterial infection.

Similar fish kills involving the same species occurred on the South Branch Potomac River (WV) in 2002 and on the North Fork Shenandoah River in 2004. The cause of those two fish kills was never determined. However, similar land use within these three Potomac watersheds may suggest a link between the fish kills. Fish have been collected and sent to laboratories at Virginia Tech and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Fish Disease Lab in Lamar, Pa. for analysis. No signs of viral infections were found and external lesions were consistent with some type of stressor.

Although the exact cause of these fish kill may never be proven, fisheries biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) continue to work closely with the Department of Environmental Quality to investigate several scenarios. The most plausible of these scenarios would suggest that several natural environmental factors combined with water quality impacts associated with excess nutrients might be the culprit. Water quality standards for nutrients that can affect stream health do not generally apply in Virginia. However, the scientific community generally agrees that elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorous can impair freshwater ecosystems. Many tributaries of the South Fork Shenandoah suffer from nutrient overload, which can cause algal blooms and excessive aquatic weed growth, which at times can degrade water quality and stress fish. To further complicate issues, streambank erosion, runoff from parking lots, rooftops, roads, and pesticide/herbicide runoff can also negatively contribute to stream health. Teasing out one cause for the fish kill is very difficult and complex.

Smallmouth bass in the Shenandoah River grow extremely slow and live a long time. Replacing the quality size smallmouth that have perished will take 5-10 years. However, the 2004 spawn of smallmouth bass is one of the largest ever recorded and these fish were not impacted by the kill. Based on spring/summer flows VDGIF fisheries biologists expect a good spawn this year as well, but will not be able to confirm the level of spawning success until fall. These young fish form a good basis for population recovery, but the quality fishery will not return if fish kills of this nature persist in the immediate future.

What can be done to prevent this from happening in the future? VDGIF encourages all citizens living in the Shenandoah Valley to work together to reduce nutrient runoff. One of the most effective ways to improve water quality is to restore vegetated buffer zones along all streams and drainages in the watershed. These "riparian" zones are natural filters that help remove excess nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants from the Commonwealth's waterways. There are several programs available that provide financial and technical assistance to landowners in restoring these buffer zones. Interested landowners should contact their Soil and Water Conservation District, the Natural Resource Conservation Service or the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to discuss potential programs and financial incentives.
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