Pike Lake Fish Kill Unlikely To Have Long-Term Effects, Says Lilly Center
Pike Lake Fish Kill Unlikely To Have Long-Term Effects, Says Lilly Center
Posted
Staff Report-
Pike Lake Fish Kill Unlikely To Have Long-Term Effects, Says Lilly CenterWINONA LAKE – Residents on Pike Lake reported dead fish washing up on their shores on Sunday.
Upon further inspection by Lilly Center staff, approximately 50 dead fish could be seen from the properties west of Beyer Park to the stretch of the bank along Arthur Street, south of the Pike Lake pier. Additional reports suggest fish have been found along the shores of Little Pike Lake, too.
As of Monday afternoon, the fish kill appears to be contained to gizzard shad, a species of fish particularly prone to fish kills, according to a news release from The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams.
Lack of oxygen in the water is one of the primary causes of a fish kill. During the winter months, fish enter a state called torpor that reduces their oxygen use. However, as plants decompose the oxygen is used up. Another cause of low oxygen is ice cover. The ice creates a seal that does not allow oxygen from the air to mix into the water.
When a fish kill is made up of one species of fish, a virus or illness may be to blame.
According to Jeremy Price, associate director at the Lilly Center and a fish biologist, gizzard shad are “very susceptible to stress-related illnesses brought on by water temperature changes during the spring. These illnesses often result in the death of a small portion of the population.”
A gizzard shad fish kill was previously reported in Pike Lake in 2019.
Price explains that although gizzard shad may be weak individually, their ability to reproduce at a young age makes their populations resilient to fish kills. As a result, it is unlikely that this die-off will have a significant impact on Pike Lake.
Do you have additional information about this event or have related questions about your lake? Contact the Lilly Center by calling 574-372-5100, ext. 6446, or by emailing lakes@grace.edu.
The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College conducts research, provides resources, engages and educates residents, and collaborates with local organizations to make the lakes and streams of Kosciusko County clean, healthy, safe and beautiful. To date, the Lilly Center has conducted scientific research on over 30 streams and 40 lakes. The Lilly Center is driven to create a legacy of stewardship by equipping community members, visitors, and future generations with understanding and to enjoy the county’s natural beauty, the news release states. For more information, visit lakes.grace.edu.
