Scientists investigate fish kill

Scientists investigate fish kill

reports on Upper James,

lower Cowpasture Rivers

RICHMOND, VA.-Virginia officials again are seeking the publics assistance in determining the extent of fish kills as reports of dead and dying fish are investigated on the upper James River and the lower Cowpasture River.

In the past few weeks, the Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries received scattered reports of dead fish in the lower Cowpasture. Recently, reports surfaced of affected fish in the upper James. DEQ and DGIF investigated these reports more thoroughly on May 16 and found affected fish on the Cowpasture, mainly downstream of Route 39; on the James near Buchanan in Botetourt County; and on the James at Horseshoe Bend, also known as Narrow Passage, upstream of Buchanan.

On the Cowpasture, rock bass, smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish had lesions. The number of fish with lesions near Buchanan was small, but scientists believe the situation requires further investigation. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and redbreast sunfish are the main species affected. At Horseshoe Bend, more fish with larger lesions were found. Northern hogsucker, smallmouth bass, rock bass, largemouth bass and redbreast sunfish are mainly affected, and numerous dead fish also were observed. The observations on the James River are similar to fish kills in the Shenandoah River watershed in the past three years.

The internal organs of these fish have been preserved for analysis. In addition, DEQ and DGIF plan a combined effort the week of May 21 to collect fish on the James, Cowpasture and Shenandoah rivers. The fish will be sent to several laboratories, microscopically examined, and tested for bacteria and viruses.

The Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force is coordinating this latest investigation with additional biologists from DEQ and DGIF, as well as with angler groups and university scientists. The task force continues to receive reports of fish kills on the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah. The public is encouraged to provide any information on the location, number and type of fish found dead or sick in the Shenandoah, Cowpasture and James river systems. Distressed fish are found mainly in eddies, shallow areas and slow-moving waters away from the main current.

Anyone with information is asked to call the DEQ regional office in Harrisonburg at (540) 574-7800, or toll-free in Virginia at 1-800-592-5482. Information also can be emailed to fishreports@deq.virginia.gov.