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Published - Friday, March 11, 2005
DNR investigates fish kill; manure runoff suspected
By REID MAGNEY / La Crosse Tribune
WESTBY, Wis. — Wildlife biologists are investigating a fish kill in Vernon County likely caused by manure runoff.
An
angler discovered dead fish Monday at Jersey Valley Lake, which is
between Cashton and Westby, by an impoundment on the west branch of the
Kickapoo River.
Dave Vetrano, fisheries supervisor with the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office in La Crosse, said he
doesn't yet know how extensive the damage is. He is, however, worried
about more fish kills in coming weeks as melting snow carries manure
into local streams and lakes.
During inspections Wednes-day,
Vetrano found dead fish and extremely dirty water in the 54-acre lake.
The manure depletes oxygen in the water, essentially smothering the
fish.
"We're not done yet," said Vetrano, who oversees
900
miles of classified trout streams in La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe and
Crawford counties. "There's plenty of ice and snow" and it "depends on
how the melts come."
The Vernon County kill is not an isolated
incident. The DNR has reported five other manure-related incidents this
year suspected to have been caused by winter-spreading of manure.
The
agency urged livestock operators to avoid spreading manure until the
snow has melted and the ground has thawed so the soil can absorb the
manure.
Vetrano said no single source of the manure has been
located. "I think it was just excessive runoff on a system that's got
runoff on a lot of fields," he said.
"Probably no laws were
broken, but there are some questions about judgment," said Vetrano.
"The stars aligned in a really bad way."
Vetrano said none of
the livestock operations in the watershed is large enough to require a
DNR manure management plan, which specifies when and where they can
spread.
Tests Wednesday by DNR fisheries staff "showed the
highest recorded level of dissolved oxygen in the water was one part
per million," the DNR statement said. "Trout generally need 5 parts per
million of oxygen in water to survive. Warm water species usually need
at least 3 parts per million oxygen for survival."
Vetrano said
the lake is fed by runoff from a watershed covering about 12 square
miles. It is located at the head waters of the West Fork of the
Kickapoo River, which is a trout stream. Vetrano said no fish kill has
been located in the trout stream. He said the water picks up some
oxygen as it plunges over a dam spillway leaving the impoundment.
Roger
Widner of Westby, a member of the West Fork Sports Club, which promotes
trout stream development, said Thursday he checked below the dam and
found no damage so far.
"This is the headwaters of one of the
best trout-fishing streams in the Midwest," Widner said. "I hope the
lake contains the spill."
Depending on the extent of the kill,
Vetrano said it could take years for the lake to recover. It takes 10
years for a Wisconsin bluegill to reach 9 to 10 inches, he said.
If the lake needs restocking, "I've got no budget for that," he added.
Vetrano said the Vernon County Land Conservation Department is helping to investigate the fish kill.
DNR crews are also checking Sidie Hollow Lake and Rung Hollow Lake to see if there are problems in those locations, he said.
Reid Magney can be reached at (608) 791-8211 or rmagney@lacrossetribune.com. |
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