By: GARY FAULKENBERRY, External Affairs VP Lake Wateree Association October 11, 2011
A concerned and alert Lake Wateree resident brought attention to a fish kill the week of October 10th. Susan Tracy, who lives on the Lugoff side in Kershaw County, called a local lake leader and Area Representative, Bob Smith, to report a large number of catfish were dead and washing up in her cove. The report was in and around the section know as “ski alley”. Bob engaged LWA leaders, the Covekeeper representative, our Riverkeeper, and Dick Foot our Water Watch leader about the potential issue. Cynthia Wood the Covekeeper representative investigated and found the dead fish to be fairly widespread and creating an “early Thanksgiving feast” for the buzzards. Dick Foot discussed potential water sampling with our USC Water Watch team members and developed some contingency plans. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) were notified of the find and their assistance was requested.
Early results show that the fish kill is not from any release of chemicals, etc. It appears to be some kind of bacteriological or fungal infection killing the fish. It is primarily affecting shad, white catfish, and blue catfish. They are awaiting lab results for an ID of the exact biological culprit, but they again indicated that it will likely get worse with these species before it gets better. DHEC did recommend that people NOT TOUCH OR GRAB the dead fish, especially if they have cuts or wounds on them which could allow the bacteria/fungus causing this fish kill to enter the human body. LWA issued an e-blast to its members advising them of this potential hazard, and passed it along to our partners in Fairfield WHOA for their communication also.
Several key points surface in this incident. First is that this is why we need ALL residents and stakeholders of the lake to be alert to conditions and changes and to report to or engage our network of lake teams when you see something suspicious. Secondly, it was great to see our network of LWA leaders, Covekeepers, Water Watch, Riverkeeper, etc. quickly engage in the incident and bring their skills to bear. And third, this is why we need these volunteer teams and trained people around the lake to help us with incidents like this one.
