The Shenandoah Fish Kill Portal

The following Fish Kill Task Force research presentations were made in November 2008. A catalog of research projects in Excel spreadsheet format can be downloaded here: Research Catalog (right-click & select save). See the Press Release post below for more information on the Fish Kill Task Force research review meeting.

“2007 Passive Sampler Results in Context” - Brent, DEQ	“Causal Factors in Spring-Time Fish Kills” - Voshell, Virginia Tech
“Episodic Monitoring Project: Analytical Results for South Fork Shenandoah River and Cub Run Storm Runoff Events” - Downey, James Madison University	“Centrarchid Fish Lesions/Kills - Perceptions and Interpretation” - Blazer, USGS
DEQ Water Quality Findings - Turner, DEQ	“Status of the Shenandoah River Fishery” - Reeser, DGIF

FISH KILL TASK FORCE EVALUATES RESULTS OF LATEST STUDIES

RICHMOND, VA. - The Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force met November 17, 2008, to review the latest research on the causes of unexplained fish kills in several Virginia river systems since 2003. The meeting included presentations and discussions of findings during 2008. Though researchers have not identified a cause, they are evaluating several significant findings.

The work plan for 2009 will be developed with input form the task force’s science subcommittee and should be finalized by early January. The general focus of work for 2009 will be on disease-causing organisms, fish health and water quality.

As researchers continue to gather valuable information, task force members are considering several theories. This includes the possibility of multiple stressors on fish populations that make the cause of the kills more complex than a single contaminant, virus or bacteria.  

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FISH KILLS HAVE DEVELOPED MORE SLOWLY IN 2008, VIRGINIA REPORTS
RICHMOND, VA. - Fish kills are occurring in Virginia rivers again this year but have developed more slowly than in past years, according to ongoing studies by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The severity of the kills in the Shenandoah River watershed may be more moderate this year, though fish kills in the upper James River watershed appear similar to those in 2007, the agencies reported today.

Fish kills and fish with lesions have been observed in the upper James River and some tributaries, including the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers. DGIF sampling on these rivers has confirmed recent anglers’ reports that 25 percent to 30 percent of fish have lesions.

There have been no problems reported on the mainstem Shenandoah River, though the upper North and South Forks of the Shenandoah have seen low numbers of affected fish this year. The sections of both forks that experienced kills in past years are reporting greatly improved catches this spring.

Though the fish kills each year apparently have followed the onset of warmer water temperatures during the spring, no cause for the fish deaths and lesions has been identified. The kills have not occurred after June in previous years. The Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force, chaired by DEQ and DGIF, began extensive investigations into the problem in 2005.

The number of kills began to increase this spring after stream temperatures rose in late May. Investigators have collected water and fish samples before and during the fish kills, and the same type of sampling has been conducted at other streams – in rivers with similar fish species but no fish kills. Laboratory processing of these samples may take several months.
 

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Originally posted 1/28/07: 

An article was recently written in the Daily News Record’s Rocktown Weekly newspaper about the Fish Kill and possible causes. Read the full text of the article at this link:

http://www.rocktownweekly.com/news_details.php?AID=14341&CHID=1

CORRECTION [Posted 1/31/08]:

“A recent article ran in the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record about the status of the fish kill investigation.  The story said we had adequate funding for spring 2008, but that future funding was a problem.  The statement was attributed to me.  I called the reporter (Hannah Northey) and clarified that we do NOT have adequate funding for our spring 2008 investigations.  I told her that we have sufficient funds to cover DEQ’s proposed water quality monitoring, but that our funds are not nearly sufficient to carry out the comprehensive investigations that are needed for 2008.” -Don Kain

The file below, sent by Don Kain, contains information about the investigative needs and required funds.

Fish Kill Investigation Funds [Word Doc]

Update: Here is another related Rocktown Weekly Article from 2/1

http://www.rocktownweekly.com/news_details.php?AID=14739&CHID=2

PDF Files (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Click here to download the DEQ’s Fish Kill Science Team Report from January 2007

Click here to read the DEQ/DGIF Spring 2007 Investigation Plans