DEP: Algae May be Cause of Dead Fish
Prevention methods now being studied
Morgantown Dominion Post
25 September 2009
By Alex Lang
An algae bloom may be the reason for the significant fish kill in
Dunkard Creek, officials from the state Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) said Friday. The algae is identified as Prymnesium
parvum, a golden brown form of
the plant. The algae is primarily found in coastal water that may have
a higher salt or mineral content. It produces toxins that can affect
gill-breathing organisms.
"Narrowing down the cause will allow us and anyone who may be found to
be responsible to find a solution," DEP Cabinet Secretary Randy Huffman
said in a release. "Some members of our investigation team are now
turning their attention to finding ways to minimize or eliminate the
algae bloom. We are also evaluating what can be done to prevent this
from happening in the future, in Dunkard and other watersheds."
The algae is not known to cause human health problems and no immediate
harmful effects are recorded in mammals that eat the dead fish,
according to the DEP release. Huffman could not be reached for further
comment in time for
this report.
According to the release, the characteristics of the Dunkard Creek fish
kill are almost identical to other fish kills from around the country.
WVU Plant and Soil Science Department Professor Alan Sexstone said the
toxins the algae attack the membranes of the gills, slowing the fish's
breathing before killing it.
The conditions in Dunkard Creek were ideal for the algae to grow,
Sexstone said. It flourishes in water that has certain dissolved
minerals and gets ample sunlight.
When it begins multiplying, Sexstone said, it starts slow, but then
grows exponentially.
Reduction of the algae might not occur until there is less sunlight and
temperatures begin to drop, Sexstone said. Once that starts, the algae
will slow its rate of growth.
Sexstone said he was unsure if the algae would be completely removed or
if this could become an ongoing issue.
Some of the early speculation for the fish kill turned to discharge
from the Blacksville No. 2 coal mine. CONSOL Energy Senior Vice
President Tom Hoffman said mine officials had
received tests earlier in the week that confirmed that it was algae
that was killing the fish.
"Now we know it wasn't Blacksville No. 2," Hoffman said.
Hoffman said they didn't believe the mine was the cause because the
dead fish were found north of the mine and also five miles downstream
from where the mine discharges into Dunkard.
CONSOL also didn't have fish dying in the pond where the water sits
after treatment but before it is discharged, Hoffman said. They stopped
discharging from the mine for the past week, Hoffman said, to see what
would happen.
The reason for discharge in the creek is because CONSOL needs a place
to put the excess water, Hoff-man said. The discharge also has some
benefits for the creek — it helps keep water levels up and can support
the ecosystem, he said.
One local resident said the DEP's findings surprised him.
"Yeah, it does," Billy Craig said. "I've never seen it."
Craig is a member of the Mount Morris Sportsmen's Club and said he has
fished in the creek for years. He wondered how the algae ended up in
the stream because he hasn't seen algae in the stream in the past.
Craig added he thought pollution was the cause for the fish kill.
Even if they have found a cause, Craig said it will take years before
the creek returns to normal.
"It's sad," he said.