DNR, Riverkeepers investigate increase in dead fish in Menomonee
The fish are often attracted to the warm water in the canal.
The fish are often attracted to the warm water in the canal.
The fish are often attracted to the warm water in the canal.
Dead fish are washing up on the shores of the Menomonee River in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood.
And residents have begun to take notice.
"We have been getting calls and complaints about dying and dead fish along the Menomonee River canal," said Cherly Nenn, of Milwaukee Riverkeepers.
She said her group has been monitoring the situation as the fish are often attracted to the warm water in the canal.
"When the water is very warm, it can hold less oxygen," Nenn said. "We'll sometimes see issues then."
But the temperature may not be the only problem.
"A disease that is called VHS, which stands for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, it causes fish to slowly bleed to death," Nenn said.
The Department of Natural Resources is also investigating.
"One thing that sticks out to us in particular, it seems to be limited to one species of fish -- the gizzard shad," Laura Schmidt said. "They're a forge fish that are fairly susceptible
sometimes to thermal changes in the water or diseases."
The DNR has collected samples for testing.
"It will take a couple of weeks to get those results back, but those results should tell us if there is a disease in the gizzard shad," Schmidt said.
On the Menomonee River canal, dead fish are lined up but it won't be long before nature takes its course.
"I think the gulls will do a fairly good job at taking care of them but we already see a lot of them are sinking and starting to degrade at the bottom of the river," Nenn said.
