Fish Dying in Dunkard Creek:

DEP investigating cause and solution


Morgantown Dominion Post
4 September 2009
By Alex Lang

When Jeff Graham looked at Dunkard Creek on Wednesday, he saw something he had not seen before — dead fish lying on the banks and rust-colored water in
the creek bed.

But Graham said, he had no idea how the creek near Blacksville ended up this way. “I wish I knew.”
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigators are also baffled over what caused the fish to die. The investigation into the situation is ongoing.
“It’s a very unusual case,” said Mike Carico, a DEP investigator.

The DEP estimated that at least 60 fish were dead. Others said they believed the number to be higher.

Carico said it is a unique situation because they haven’t been able to trace the problem to a source. He said they were looking at every possible reason, from a
natural process to industrial waste.

Wednesday was the first time Graham said he noticed that the dead fish lined the creek’s banks. He also saw that the water was a different color than its usual murky green. Several other residents in the area also complained about the dead fish in the water. Matt Higginbotham said he noticed the dead fish a few days ago. But, now the smell is potent in that area.

The stench of rotting fish remains in the area makes it hard for residents to spend any time outside, Higginbotham said. He added you can smell it even if you are only
driving by the area.

“Really, you just want to leave,” Higginbotham said.

He said he has never seen the creek look like it currently does. Even at its lowest points, he has never seen the water appear this rusty red.

Higginbotham said he also worries about the health situation in the area. The dead fish are rotting along the banks and animals can eat the dead fish.

_Graham said he has lived on the property since 1970 and swam and fished in the creek as a child. Seeing it Wednesday, Graham said, gave him the typical human emotions.

“Oh, yeah it disappoints me,” he said. “It angers me.”

After he saw the creek, Graham said he contacted the DEP and someone came out to inspect the situation.

Carico said the agency took water samples Thursday to determine the pollution’s source. “Until we identify the problem,” he said, “we can’t identify a solution.”

Officials from several state agencies plan to meet at the creek again today to try to figure out an answer, Carico said. Every possible scenario is being discussed as they try to determine why the fish died.

Whatever has caused the problem, Graham said he wants the problem fixed and eagerly awaits the stream returning to normal.

“I hope it’s not forever,” he said.