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>Fish kill again at Deep Creek Lake

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The state Department of the Environment says it’s investigating a small fish kill discovered earlier this week at Deep Creek Lake, the popular western Maryland mountain resort area which experienced a large and prolonged fish die-off during last year’s blistering summer.

A fishing guide reported spotting about 50 dead fish Monday or Tuesday, and a state fisheries biologist checking it out found “scattered fish, in low density” at various points around the lake, according to Jay Apperson, an MDE spokesman. Most were bluegills, and all appeared to have been dead for several days, with no signs of fresh deaths, he wrote in an email.

About 2,000 walleye and other mostly deep-water fish went belly-up from July into September last year, an unusually large and prolonged die-off that state investigators concluded resulted from a combination of heat stress and bacterial infection that can kill fish when they’re stressed. Adding to the stress was the shrinkage of the zone of water in the lake with enough oxygen for fish to breathe comfortably – also likely a result of high water temperatures.

Read more here.

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DNR Digest – What Causes a Fishkill

HometownAnnapolis.com

Fish kills can be caused by a combination of natural and man-made stresses in the environment. They can also be caused when a toxic substance enters the waterway.

Fish behaviors can be one cause of fish kills. If too many fish are in a given area, or if they are spawning, the resulting stress can leave them more vulnerable to disease. This is also true if the fish are lacking food, are burdened with parasites or have high levels of contaminants in their body tissue.

Natural factors such as hot weather, drought or sudden changes in water temperature or salinity can also add to the stress on fish and contribute to fish kills.

This summer’s fish kill at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland appears to have been caused by the condition of the fish along with natural water conditions. Preliminary results showed that unprecedented high temperatures in the surface layers of the lake during July, in combination with other stress factors such as gill parasites, set the stage for bacterial disease among the most susceptible fish species.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Deep Creek fish kill toll at 1,000 — and counting

Investigators hopeful death rate slowing down
Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News

— DEEP CREEK LAKE — The death toll of the June fish kill in Deep Creek Lake has reached approximately 1,000 and counting, but environmental investigators are hopeful the rate of fish deaths is slowing.

Investigators are attributing the fish kill to unprecedented high water temperatures in the lake, combined with the speed at which the water temperature rose. The water heated up too quickly for the fish to become acclimated.

“The vast majority of fish kills are really natural, as this one apparently is as well,” said Maryland Department of the Environment Program Manager Charlie Poukish, who investigated the incident. “Our main interest, of course, is to get out quick enough to try to document if there is some sort of toxin — the old canary in the coal mine.”

But instead of a toxin, Poukish said the Deep Creek Lake fish appear to be victims of a combination of stresses. Those stresses, including the higher water temperature, made them more susceptible to parasites.

“We noticed a very heavy parasite load on the fish,” Poukish said, adding, “The ultimate cause of death was really septicemia, which was brought on by a common bacteria found in nature which really doesn’t affect fish until they’re stressed.”

Long term monitoring by the Department of Natural Resources showed that the lake’s surface water temperature in July was the hottest it’s been through the entire data collection period — the years 2000, 2002 to 2003, and 2008 to 2010.

Temperatures in the upper layer of lake water were between 76 and 80 degrees. Many of the dead fish were cold water species, such as yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike, that thrive in temperatures less than 73.4 degrees.

Insufficient oxygen levels in deeper layers of the lake might have prevented the fish from escaping to cooler water below, Poukish said.

The first dead fish began appearing on or around July 17. Escalating numbers of dead fish prompted an investigation by local environmental agencies, MDE and the Department of Natural Resources.

Testing is ongoing to determine the specific type of protozoan parasite found on the fish, Poukish said.

There appears to be no threat to human health, and the fish parasite cannot infect people, according to MDE officials. But touching, eating, swimming with, or coming into close proximity to any dead fish should still be avoided.

Fish kills and algae blooms may be reported by calling 1-866-MDE-GOTO or 877-224-RBAY.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Investigation Of Deep Creek Fish Kill Continues

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Aug. 5, 2010

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources continue to investigate a large fish kill that occurred two weeks ago in Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County. In consultation with the Garrett County Health Department, MDE and DNR are providing additional information regarding necessary public health precautions.
Visitors and residents are advised to avoid touching, eating, or otherwise coming into proximity to any dead fish or fish with outward signs of stress or disease. Extra precautions should be taken for those with open wounds. Dogs, and other pets should be restricted from coming in contact with dead or dying fish. The best method to dispose of the fish is by burying them.

Analysis of samples collected by the Garrett County Health Department at 21 different sampling points around the lake the week of July 18 indicated low levels of E.coli bacteria at all locations. Swimming in Deep Creek Lake does not pose any additional public health risk at this time, although dead fish floating in the water should be avoided if possible.

The bacteria thought to be responsible for the fish kill has been identified as Aeromonas species, which has been known to cause other fish kills in Maryland. State health officials note that while this organism can cause infections through skin wounds, it has not been commonly associated with outbreaks in swimming areas. Therefore, no specific advisories are being issued regarding recreational water contact at Deep Creek Lake, except those related to direct contact with fish as described above.

The investigation is still ongoing, according to the MDE. Preliminary results indicate that unprecedented high temperatures in July in the surface waters of the lake are causing fish to be stressed and set the stage for a parasite protozoan infestation. This leads to a lethal secondary bacterial infection, primarily affecting fish in the lower upstream section of the lake.

The bacteria causing this secondary infection, Aeromonas hydrophila, is commonly present in the intestinal tract of healthy fish, said a DNR spokesperson. The affected fish were initially cold-water species such as yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike that are adapted to temperatures less than 73.4 degrees Fahrenheit/23 degrees Celsius. Warm-water species such as largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill sunfish are now also being affected.

While a fish kill of this type is rarely seen in Deep Creek Lake because of its normally low water temperatures, it is not uncommon in other areas of the state, according to the DNR.

Read the full article here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Residents concerned about Deep Creek Lake's future

Some of the facts need to be checked with this article (lack of no wake zones? – I can show you at least 10 no-wake buoys on the lake), but there some legitimate concerns voiced here. I’m anxiously awaiting the water analysis results from the state labs – I am confident that the answers to all of the speculation will be found in those results.
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MCHENRY — — Something’s killing the fish at Deep Creek Lake. The die-off appears to be weather-related, but some people wonder if it’s an omen for the future of this mountain resort, as the “crown jewel” of rural western Maryland becomes increasingly crowded with vacation homes, boaters and tourist attractions.

Over the past couple of weeks, about 1,000 yellow perch, walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, catfish and bluegill have been found floating belly-up on the 3,900-acre manmade lake. Though the fish kill is small compared with die-offs around the Chesapeake Bay, it’s the largest here since the state Department of the Environment began keeping track.

“This is too depressing,” said Barbara Beelar, 68, as she piloted her outboard boat among dead perch scattered across the water near her lakefront home. A retired community organizer who began summering here in her childhood, she worries that the dead fish are “canaries in the coal mine,” harbingers of an ecosystem increasingly stressed by all the people drawn to the lake to live, work and play.

Two years ago, thick mats of bright green algae formed on the southern end of the lake, prompting Beelar to form the Friends of Deep Creek Lake. She and other residents say they’re concerned about polluted runoff from farms and vacation homes, about leaking septic tanks, sewage leaks and about shoreline erosion muddying the water and filling in the coves. The number of homes there has grown by 50 percent in the past 25 years and is projected to nearly double in the next two decades.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

Ongoing DCL Fish Kill Under State Investigation

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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are investigating what appears to be a localized, sustained fish kill in Deep Creek Lake. To date, MDE and DNR are reporting approximately 200 dead fish, including yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, bluegills, chain pickerel, Northern pike, and crayfish.
At this time, no evidence suggests a threat to human health; however, visitors and residents are advised to avoid touching, swimming with, or coming into proximity to any dead fish. MDE and DNR are consulting with state and local public health agencies about the issue.

The cause of the fish kill is currently unknown, and a thorough investigation by MDE and DNR is under way, which includes water quality testing and a diagnostic analysis of affected fish species. To date, no evidence of a toxic or hazardous chemical spill has been found.

Evidenced by the large adult fish species that have been affected, the focus of the investigation is on the deeper portions of the lake. At this time, the shallower waters do not appear to be affected.

Local residents and visitors should contact MDE at 443-482-2732 with reports of dead fish as well as information about anything out of the ordinary that may have contributed to the ongoing incident.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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"No Correlation Between Sewage Spill And Fish Kill," Says GC Health Dept.

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There does not appear to be any correlation between a July 11 sewage spill that occurred in the area of Lake Shore Drive and Route 219 and a fish kill, the Garrett County Health Department reported Friday.

The fish kill is currently being investigated in the area of Beckman’s Peninsula and Green Glade at Deep Creek Lake by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources.

Bacteriological testing outside the sewage spill area both before and after the fish kill began showed normal bacteria levels, according to the Health Department.

After the sewage spill occurred, a no-swimming advisory was posted in the affected area and daily bacteria testing was conducted until the swimming advisory could be lifted.

The Health Department’s Environmental Health Services Division tests bacteriological quality of lake water each month throughout the summer.

“Normal results were found in all locations during the latest sampling, conducted on Monday, July 19,” said a division spokesperson. “These results indicate that the lake is safe for recreational activities, including swimming.”

A press release sent out last week from the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) read: “At this time, no evidence suggests a threat to human health; however, visitors and residents are advised to avoid touching, swimming with, or coming into close proximity to any dead fish.”

MDE asks that local residents and visitors contact MDE at 1-443-482-2732 with reports of dead fish as well as information about anything out of the ordinary that may have contributed to the ongoing incident.

Questions about water quality and swimming should be directed to Environmental Health at the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7760 or 301-895-3111.

Read the article here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!

More on fish kills in Maryland

The Maryland Department of the Environment is mandated by Environmental Article Section 4-405 (c) to oversee the investigation of fish kill incidents throughout the State.

The Fish Kill Investigation Section manages and coordinates the multi-agency, statewide fish kill response program. Staff is on call during the regular workweek and on weekends, holidays and after normal working hours to ensure that all fish kill reports are promptly addressed.

The presence of dead or distressed fish may indicate that a toxic substance has entered the waterway. For this reason, it is very important to quickly ascertain the facts, announce the findings, and institute corrective measures if practical.

Fish kills also result from a combination of natural and human induced stresses in the environment. Several elements may combine and act synergistically to overload stress tolerance levels and induce a fish kill. Typical stress factors may include population stress (crowding), spawning stress, reduced food abundance, excessive temperatures or sudden temperature change, parasite burdens, high or low pH, low oxygen levels caused by sewage or excessive algae (fueled by nutrient enrichment), salinity stress, chronic toxin levels (including metals and organics), and drought. Each incident is categorized according to the dominant stress factor detected.

More from the State website.
If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

State suspects hot weather in Deep Creek Fish kill

MCHENRY, MD. — Scientists say hot weather may be behind the deaths of about 500 fish at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland.

The state Department of the Environment said Thursday that high air temperatures this month warmed the lake’s surface and created ideal conditions for an infestation of parasitic microorganisms that affect the gills of certain cold-water fish.

The agency says the fish kill is affecting mainly cold-water species such as yellow perch, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike.

Environmental regulators and the state Department of Natural Resources are still collecting and analyzing water and fish samples. They say they won’t know for sure what caused the kill for several weeks.

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/state-suspects-hot-weather-in-deep-creek-fish-kill-99555964.html#ixzz0v5oxTcnq

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Hundreds of dead fish found in Deep Creek Lake

Megan Miller
Cumberland Times-News

— DEEP CREEK LAKE — The mysterious deaths of hundreds of fish in Deep Creek Lake have prompted an investigation by state environmental officials and a warning to lakegoers to avoid all contact with fish carcasses.

As of Thursday afternoon, approximately 200 fish had been found dead in and around the lake, in what Maryland Department of the Environment spokeswoman Dawn Stoltzfus called “a localized, sustained fish kill.”

“At this time, no evidence suggests a threat to human health; however, visitors and residents are advised to avoid touching, swimming with, or coming into close proximity to any dead fish,” MDE officials stated in a news release.

Stoltzfus said the first dead fish began appearing Saturday.

The cause and exact location of the fish kill is still unknown. It appears to have occurred in the deepest part of the lake, Stoltzfus said, because most of the dead fish have been large adults. Shallower waters do not seem to be affected, at this point.

Many fish have washed up on the beach in the Green Glade Cove area, but that could be due to the direction the wind blows off the lake.

“Where they’re ending up isn’t necessarily where the fish kill is happening,” she said.

The majority of the dead fish have been yellow perch, but walleye, smallmouth bass, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, bluegill, chain pickerel, Northern pike and crayfish carcasses have also been found.

MDE and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have launched an investigation into the cause of the fish kill. Investigators will conduct water quality, carcass and fish feces testing, and a diagnostic analysis of affected species.

On July 11, an electrical malfunction at a pump station caused 42,000 gallons of sewage to overflow along the shore of the lake, near the intersection of U.S. Route 219 and Lake Shore Drive. But Stoltzfus said investigators have not yet found evidence that points to any specific cause for the fish kill, including the sewage spill.

Fish kills are a very unusual occurrence at Deep Creek Lake. MDE only has record of one other such incident, in 2004, in which an individual reported 78 dead yellow perch. When investigators arrived at the lake, they did not find any fish carcasses or any evidence that pointed to a cause for a fish kill.

People who find dead fish in the lake area or have information about anything that could have contributed to the ongoing incident should contact MDE at 443-482-2732.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!