Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Ernie · Jul-05-26 6:46PM

Hundreds of dead fish on the Upper Potomac. Mostly carp and catfish, a walleye was pushing 24?.

From MD Dept. of the Environment

Our working hypothesis is the cause is not just the record-breaking 94?F water temperature, but a combination of heat stress, drought conditions (river flow is at half the typical July median), and potential underlying bacterial infections or parasites. The location was Sycamore Island with most affected fish along the Virginia shoreline. This occurred on a very hot day with big storms and a big holiday celebration, so we just wanted to make sure people were aware we will continue to investigate.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) ? A large number of fish in sections of the Potomac River were killed by record temperatures, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Environment officials explained that biologists recorded temperatures up to 94 degrees in the Potomac River near Seneca, causing the fish to die. The number of fish impacted has not been released.

The event is known as a summer turnover and is described as layered warm and cold water suddenly mixing, resulting in low-oxygen water rising to the surface.

Ernie · Jul-05-26 6:55PM

Ernie wrote:
The event is known as a summer turnover and is described as layered warm and cold water suddenly mixing, resulting in low-oxygen water rising to the surface.

Not sure there is enough depth for this to occur...IMHO.

Ernie · Jul-07-26 1:22PM

Update 2 (7/6): Over the past 12 hours, Maryland Department of the Environment scientists have continued investigating the fish kill reported along a several-mile stretch of the Potomac River.

Yesterday, field teams completed on-water assessments and found that the event was concentrated in one primary species, golden redhorse suckers. Water temperatures in the affected area were measured in the mid-90s ?F, creating stressful conditions for fish. Based on those observations, investigators concluded the fish kill had likely ended or significantly subsided and that extreme heat was the most likely cause.

Today, MDE scientists returned to the river for a second day of field work to gather additional information and confirm those initial findings. Teams are collecting more water quality measurements, documenting the extent of the fish kill, identifying affected fish species, and collecting fish for laboratory analysis.

At this time, there is no evidence of a chemical spill or other pollution event. Laboratory testing and today's field observations will help confirm the cause and rule out other contributing factors.

MDE will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as new information becomes available.

Ernie · Jul-07-26 1:56PM

Update 3 (7/7): the area impacted by the fish kill spanned approximately 13.7 river miles between Whites's Ferry and Violette's Lock. Violette's lock (lock 23) is several miles upstream of Sycamore Island.

drxfish · Jul-07-26 2:36PM

Sad to see. Definitely stressful conditions for the fish. Carp and catfish are pretty plentiful, so hopefully the situation will improve before more fish die.

hookup · Jul-10-26 7:21PM

Happening in Baltimore too

https://www.wbal.com/dead-fish-crabs-fo … PwBk-qvM8Q

Pacemaker Fishing Forum

#1 Jul-05-26 6:46PM

UP fish kill

#2 Jul-05-26 6:55PM

Re: UP fish kill

Ernie wrote:

#3 Jul-07-26 1:22PM

Re: UP fish kill

#4 Jul-07-26 1:56PM

Re: UP fish kill

#5 Jul-07-26 2:36PM

Re: UP fish kill

#6 Jul-10-26 7:21PM

Re: UP fish kill

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