The Iowa Department of Natural Resources on Monday investigated reports of dead channel catfish in the Shell Rock River from the Marble Rock Impoundment in Floyd County to above Clarksville in Butler County.
“The live channel catfish we found in the area showed signs of stress which means the fish kill is likely on-going and may have been occurring since last week,” said Theresa Shay, fisheries technician with the Iowa DNR.
Shay said investigators saw live fish of multiple species in the same locations that appeared in good condition.
“It would appear that this is a natural kill caused by several weeks of extremely hot water temperatures, little rainfall, a moderate green algae bloom and low flow conditions on the river and is only affecting channel catfish with the majority of dead fish in the 9-13 inch range,” she said. |
