• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Something Rotten in La. Storms Leave Dead Fish; State Eyes Recovery Issues

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By JOE MACALUSO

The smell of rotten eggs is a dead giveaway of lots of dead things in miles of waterways across south Louisiana.

State freshwater biologists know there are dead fish, know there's low dissolved oxygen levels and know these areas aren't hard to find.

"We've investigated the reports. We know lots of places from one end of the state to the other have had fish kills," Inland Fisheries biologist Joe Shepard said.

"It's our job now to find out the extent of the kills, places where the fish have survived and figure out how to respond to these areas."

Freshwater fish kills started in the far reaches of the state with Hurricane Katrina.

Venice and Caernarvon, places that produced a Bassmaster Classic winner and giant Florida strain bass, were gutted.

All Florida Parishes rivers and creeks held dead bass, bluegill and catfish.

What Katrina started, Hurricane Rita finished: Rita hit points west of the Mississippi River, including the vast Atchafalaya Spillway, the Lake Verret area, even as far north as Bayou Courtableau near Port Barre and the Negreet Creek in Toledo Bend.

"We shifted into the recovery mode now, which means we have to start developing plans for recovery of the species and the waters," Shepard said.

In this case, the freshwater fishery biologists have a "time heals all wounds" approach.

Shepard said it's only a matter of time before the affected waterways cure the low dissolved-oxygen problems.

Cooler weather, winds and rainfall help the recovery process.

Where the biologists and field staff come into the picture is assessing the scope of the fish kills and what species survived the storms.

"We know we have lots of work to do in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes for the freshwater fish," Shepard said.

"Plaquemines Parish was totally devastated by Katrina."

That means restocking programs in the Caernarvon area, while existing fish in the Mississippi River will restock the Venice area.

Otherwise, his assessments of the other areas include:

Atchafalaya Basin/Areas north of Lake Verret: Biologists termed the species loss as significant to extensive. Recovery in terms of months to years depending on the area.

Rivers and bayous off Lake Pontchartrain and Maurepas: Extensive (more than 50 percent) loss of species.

Recovery will be in terms of years.

Pearl River: A significant (more than 25 percent but less than 50 percent) loss of species and habitat. Recovery in terms of months.

Lac Des Allemands and Lake Salvador: Minimal loss of species with an almost immediate recovery.

Grand Lake-White Lake (Cameron-Vermilion parishes): Extensive loss of species and habitat.

Recovery will take years.

Calcasieu/Sabine rivers: Minimal losses.

Recovery in terms of months.

Central-North Louisiana: Losses minimal.

Recovery immediate.

"We're taking steps now to help the Basin and Lake Verret area," Shepard said.

The Corps of Engineers has acted on a Department of Wildlife Fisheries request to allow Mississippi River water through the locks at Port Allen.

The water will flow into the Lake Verret and Lake Palourde systems.

Shepard said the fresh water will improve oxygen content and help push saltwater from Palourde.

Source: Advocate; Baton Rouge, La.

More News in this Category