Dead Fish Likely From Warm Water

N.C. biologist says dead fish likely from warm water

The Associated Press
Posted: Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010

ASHEVILLE, N.C. A biologist says hundreds of dead fish found floating in a pond in the North Carolina mountains likely died due to warmer than usual water temperatures.

The Asheville Citizen Times reported Saturday that hundreds of dead fish were found this week floating on the 5-acre pond at Azalea Dog Park.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources biologist Powell Wheeler says the deaths were likely caused by a low oxygen levels due to the warmer water, which tends to hold less oxygen that cooler water.

It was not the first fish kill this year in North Carolina.Biologists say about 7,000 striped bass died in the state's largest manmade lake since July. Those deaths also were blamed in part on the increased water temperatures caused by record heat across the state this summer.
Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com

I've got a 1 1/2 acre pond in front of my house, full of fish. Its been 90 plus here for 41 days and we've had 1.20 inches of rain in 67 days. The pond is 3 feet 5 inches low, luckily its 15 feet deep at the levy end. I'm very worried. Ponds are turning over all around us.

Back in the mid 70's, they introduced rock-fish to Barren River Reservoir. They grew quickly. I caught several in the 6-10 pound range. Then one Summer got really hot, and the water was littered with them. Thermocline on Barren runs 20 feet, maybe a tad over. They went to cooler water and died out.