Fish Kill At My Local Pond?

[WDE]

I was here 4 days ago catching bass, nothing really seemed out of sorts. I did notice that some of the large fresh water clams were floating, something I hadn't seen before. The pond is in a public park with little to no vegetation. There are 3 small ponds in a direct line, all connected by "dams" with drain pipes allowing water and fish to travel between them. Other animal species that frequent the ponds are typical--birds and turtles. 

 

So is this a true fish kill, or what else could've killed these fish off so fast? I intend on contacting the local wildlife and game department tomorrow. 

 

 

 

 

[WDE]

Update: it's definitely a fish kill/die off/turnover or whatever you want to label it. The water temps have been around 90 degrees lately, and apparently this happens in this pond every year around this time. They are going to send someone out to check thout water anyway to make sure there's not any other issues. 

[WRB]

Your ponds need aeration systems. They usually look like a fountain in the deepest area of the pond and have a large pump somewhere nearby on shore to prevent very low dissolved oxygen levels.

The dead catfish indicates indicates a possible high sulfite issue that maybe caused by fertilizer run off or weed abatement chemicals.

Tom

[N Florida Mike]

We had one fish in my small lake and it was caused by oxygen depletion.The guy that sprayed for weeds killed too many weeds at one time and the resulting oxygen loss caused all ( I think ) the bigger bass to die.

I have a friend who used to work for a lake spraying co.He said if its a lot of small fish dead it was caused directly by the herbicide.If its bigger fish then its oxygen losd for whatever reason.

[WDE]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Your ponds need aeration systems. They usually look like a fountain in the deepest area of the pond and have a large pump somewhere nearby on shore to prevent very low dissolved oxygen levels.

The dead catfish indicates indicates a possible high sulfite issue that maybe caused by fertilizer run off or weed abatement chemicals.

Tom

 

Good to know, thank you. The other larger pond in this park has two large water fountains, which I assume help with aeration. The water was a lime green color yesterday in one area. I'll snap a pic later today if it's still there. 

[Sam]

WDE, where are you?  Can you add your location to your avatar?

 

I agree with the lack of oxygen or a high dose of fertilizer entered the ponds.

 

Your state game and inland fisheries should be notified and hopefully they can give you some insight.

 

Let us know what you find out.

[WDE]

2 hours ago, Sam said:

WDE, where are you?  Can you add your location to your avatar?

 

I agree with the lack of oxygen or a high dose of fertilizer entered the ponds.

 

Your state game and inland fisheries should be notified and hopefully they can give you some insight.

 

Let us know what you find out.

 

20 hours ago, WDE said:

Update: it's definitely a fish kill/die off/turnover or whatever you want to label it. The water temps have been around 90 degrees lately, and apparently this happens in this pond every year around this time. They are going to send someone out to check thout water anyway to make sure there's not any other issues. 

 

I live in a Memphis suburb. I contacted TN game and wildlife and they sent me to my local parks and rec. I'll probably swing by there again today and take a look. If anything I hope they took out the corpses. It's a bit eerie fishing near buzzards. 

 

The other pond(with the two fountains) that I referred to earlier in the thread appears to be in the midst of an algae bloom(I think). I caught a couple out of there yesterday that looked completely healthy. 

 

The bubbles were from the rain:

 

[WDE]

They did in fact come by and take the dead fish out. And I caught a couple out of there, so they're not all dead and perhaps the die off was short lived.