Algae Blamed for Fish Decline

Washington, PA Observer-Reporter
26 September 2009
By Bob Niedbala Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com

A bloom of algae normally found in coastal waters is now being blamed for the fish kill on Dunkard Creek.

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection said Friday a golden algae bloom has been linked to the death of thousands of fish and other aquatic life during the past month along more than 30 miles of the creek.

The algae found in Dunkard Creek has been identified tentatively as Prymnesium parvum, commonly called golden algae, which is found primarily in coastal waters with high levels of salt or minerals, West Virginia DEP said.

The algae produces toxins that can affect fish and other gill-breathing organisms. Because of several factors, the conditions in the creek were conducive to the algae bloom.

"All the conditions were right; the water was the right temperature, we had low water levels and we had high levels of TDS (total dissolved solids) and chloride," West Virginia DEP spokeswoman Kathy Cosco said.

Golden algae is not known to cause human health problems, and no immediate harmful effects have been recorded in mammals and birds observed eating dead fish or drinking creek water, West Virginia DEP said.

To avoid the possibility of spreading the algae, the DEP is asking everyone to avoid transporting Dunkard Creek water to other watersheds.

"While it appears that saline- and mineral-rich environments are conducive to the growth of the golden algae in Dunkard Creek, we aren't sure if the algae was introduced into the creek or if it just proliferated due to favorable conditions," West Virginia DEP Secretary Randy Huffman said.

"It could have been transplanted in a number of ways, including waterfowl, water transport or even waders of fishermen who have fished in affected waters in another state," he said.

While it may be difficult to determine how the algae came to be in Dunkard Creek, West Virginia DEP is committed to work with other agencies to determine what can be done to control the problem, Huffman said.

Agencies have reported measuring high levels of TDS and chlorides at discharges at Consol Energy's Blacksville No. 2 Mine and its Loveridge Mine upstream in St. Leo, W.Va.

Tom Hoffman said it was no secret water discharged from the two facilities has higher TDS levels, but it also appears that a number of factors may have come into play with the algae growth.

Other factors that have been discussed include low water flow and warm water temperatures in the creek, but they also could include contamination from manure or sewage discharges, Hoffman said.

The company has been discharging water from the current discharge point at Blacksville No. 2 for more than a year without problem, he said. The water is tested periodically and information is submitted to West Virginia authorities.

The fact that the fish kill first started 5 miles downstream from the discharge and then spread upstream also argues against any irregularities regarding discharges from the site, Hoffman said.

Since 2002, West Virginia DEP has asked the company to reduce chloride levels released into the creek, saying levels are higher than permitted by state law.

Hoffman said the company has been working on solutions that may involve a reverse osmosis treatment plant or larger impoundments. However, all the solutions would take time to permit and construct and would create their own environmental consequences.