Update on Fish Kills

From Tom Potrykus, Volunteer Fish Manager:

On Aug 13, I posted about the fish kill on Rice Lake. The DNR surveyed the lake, found no evidence of a chemical spill or other manmade cause, but did find a supersaturation of oxygen in the water. Water surveys on Whitewater show this same phenomenon has spread to Whitewater, killing hundreds of Black crappie…young and mature.

The DNR feels the high oxygen levels follow the recent rains, which have caused increased aquatic plant growth and algae blooms. More plant and algae life means more oxygen being dissolved into the water. Usually this is all ok, except for the Black crappie which are in our lakes. The crappie experience gas bubble trauma which prevents the fish gills from functioning properly and the fish die. Species other than crappie are generally unaffected.

Animals, other fish, and birds have cleaned up most of Rice Lakes shoreline. Expect the same thing to happen on Whitewater.

Meanwhile, crappie are off the list of fish to be stocked.

This has been a difficult summer weather wise. As you can see on social media, other lakes are having similar problems.

Big Thank you to Joe Drozd for leading the water survey effort.